Plane crashes into Milan highrise

[Haltickling]

About an hour ago, a small Piper aircraft crashed into the Pirelli Buidling in the Center of Milan, Italy.

So far, it looks like an accident. Witnesses claim that the plane was already on fire before the crash, and the pilot seems to have sent an SOS - message because of technical problems.

Nevertheless, the TV pics frighteningly resemble the pics of 9/11. I'm shocked.

 

[TicklingDuo]

I'm assuming that those aboard the plane didn't survive. Were there any other casualties?

Ann

 

[Haltickling]

The complete damage has not yet been assessed. There were at least 4 casualties within the buidling, and dozens of people injured by falling debris. It was like an extremely spooky déjà-vue!

 

[milagros317]

It may be that I am paranoid, but it seems to me that it is extremely unlikely for a small plane to crash, entirely by accident, into the tallest building in a city.

It may be a copycat suicide. The pilot need not have been a member of any terrorist group to decide to commit suicide in a spectacular way. Some years ago, here in NYC, a long time season ticket holder of the Metropolitan Opera had terminal cancer. He committed suicide by diving off one of the upper balconies to the orchestra seats below. (He was considerate enough to wait until an intermission when there was nobody in the seats below him. Nobody else was hurt.)

 

[Haltickling]

Suicide is actually considered as a motive. The pilot, a 67-year old Swiss businessman, was in heavy debts. He is also described as a 'cowboy pilot', often disobeying instructions.

Another theory blames Milan air control for bungling this up. Their sometimes unclear instructions caused a plane crash with 118 casualties last year.

Inquiry is still in process.