During a May 6 airshow performance, a midair collision involving three Aermacchi MB-339 jet aircraft of the Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori (“three-color arrow”) demonstration team ended with all aircraft landing under control, though one of the three veered off the runway due to suspected nosewheel damage. Of the three pilots involved, one was hospitalized for a reported leg fracture. No one on the ground was injured.
Frightening. I was at the Ramstein AB airshow in 1988 where the Italian team was performing the Pierced Heart routine and that ended disastrously. Dozens of people killed. I’m glad this one ended more favorably for all.
The Italians had a mid air in exactly this same maneuver in W Germany, 1988.
As a result, no maneuvers are undertaken towards the crowd any more. After two incidents, maybe the Italians should give up on this maneuver.
Video is available on YouTube.
I was in high school when that happened living next to a major USAF base where my father was based. I had long had nightmares of jets crashing into our neighborhood. One did on a nearby golf course after the pilot ejected and pointed it at a fairway straight down to minimize crash debris damage.
That Ramstein crash and video taken by one of the spectators with the jet careening out of control on fire right at the crowd (and him) gave me even more nightmares. I still have them on rare occasion decades later - wakes me up every time. Horrible scene.