In a note it Air Force General Staff he announced that as a result of the accident which took place in the late morning, the Lieutenant Colonel lost his life Cyprian Joseph and the Major Marco Meneghello, both in service with the 60th Stormo of the Italian Air Force, based in Guidonia (RM).
The news was communicated to the families of the two officers, to whom the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squad General Luca Goretti, on behalf of the entire Armed Forces, expresses a profound sign of closeness and condolences.
The Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, having heard the sad news of the very serious flight accident , he expressed deep condolences and feelings of affectionate closeness to the families of the soldiers and to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force on behalf of the Armed Forces and its staff .
The collision between the two aircraft took place a few kilometers from the Guidonia military airport, as part of a pre-planned training mission. Rescue teams and teams of Air Force specialists immediately intervened on the spot, together with firefighters and law enforcement agencies, who are continuing to operate to secure and circumscribe the impact areas.
The dynamics of the accident are under investigation. The Armed Forces will start a flight safety investigation into the incident in the next few hours.
Il Lieutenant Colonel Giuseppe Cipriano, born in Taranto on February 5, 1975, had entered the Air Force in 1996 with the 117th Complementary Officer Student Pilot course. At the 60th Wing of Guidonia he was a flight instructor pilot on the following aircraft: U208A, Glider G103, MB339-CD. He had 6000 flight hours to his credit, also carried out in operations outside the national borders.
Il Major Marco Meneghello, born in Legnago (VR) on 18 August 1977, had entered the Air Force in 1999 with the 119th Complementary Officer Student Pilot course. At the 60th Wing of Guidonia he was a flight instructor pilot on the aircraft: U208A, Glider G103. He had 2600 flight hours to his credit, also carried out in operations outside the national borders.