An Aermacchi M-346 performs an aerial manoeuvre during an air show. AP
An Aermacchi M-346 performs an aerial manoeuvre during an air show. AP
An Aermacchi M-346 performs an aerial manoeuvre during an air show. AP
An Aermacchi M-346 performs an aerial manoeuvre during an air show. AP

British pilot killed in trainer jet crash in Italy


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

A British pilot died on Wednesday when a Leonardo trainer aircraft crashed into the mountains near Lake Como in northern Italy, the Italian aerospace and defence company said.

The M-346 jet, intended for military pilot training, took off near Varese at 11am local time before losing contact 35 minutes later.

The wreckage was found near the town of Colico on the lake's north-eastern side, Leonardo said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the instructor pilot, who belonged to an external company, died in the accident,” it said, offering Leonardo's “most heartfelt condolences".

A spokesman confirmed to AFP the victim was British and added that the other pilot, who survived the crash, was Italian.

“Leonardo clarifies that, taking into account the current status of the relevant investigation, any theory on the possible causes is premature,” the firm said.

“The flight plan included trials aimed at demonstrating specific capabilities which had already been tested during several flights already carried out in the past.”

The two pilots ejected before the plane crashed at an altitude of about 2,500 metres, the newspaper Corriere della Sera reported.

The surviving pilot was taken to hospital with facial trauma, the paper said.

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.

As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.

Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.

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Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.

People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.

There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.

The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.

 

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Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda

Rating: ****

Updated: March 16, 2022, 11:35 PM`