Girl, 5, killed as aerobatic plane crashes into family’s car in Italy
A five-year-old girl has died after a military aerobatic plane crashed into her family’s car in Italy.
The girl’s mother and nine-year-old brother are being treated for burns in hospital, officials said.
The children’s father has been released from hospital following the incident, which happened around 10 miles from Turin on Saturday afternoon.
The Italian Air Force said it was investigating whether the aircraft from its aerobatic team struck birds before it crashed.
The plane had just taken off from Turin Caselle Airport before it burst into flames and crashed through the perimeter fence.
Video of the crash shows nine aircraft in two V-formations, before one plane drops below the others and crashes, sending a fireball into the air.
The pilot can be seen ejecting with a parachute shortly before impact inside a fence airfield. He suffered burns.
The video shows plumes of smoke in the distance as motorists approach the scene on a busy road.
Plane was preparing for Italian Air Force centenary
The Frecce Tricolori squadron, Italy’s premier team of aerobatic pilots, was preparing for an air show on Sunday as part of events marking the 100th anniversary of the Italian Air Force.
The pilots typically perform dramatic fly-bys at events of national importance, leaving streaks of red, green and white smoke, the colours of the Italian flag.
They perform intricate aerobatics during air shows.
In 1988, three aircraft from the Frecce Tricolori collided and crashed to the ground at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany during a display, which was attended by around 300,000 people.
The three pilots and 67 people on the ground died. Hundreds more suffered injuries.