A company flight test prototype of the Alenia Aermachi M-346 trainer jet, registration X617, crashed following a technical problem, arou...
A company flight test prototype of the Alenia Aermachi M-346 trainer jet, registration X617, crashed following a technical problem, around 20 minutes after take-off from Turin-Caselle airport, Italy.
The only pilot on board, ejected safely from the aircraft, but has some major spine injuries, after his parachute struck to a tree.
The aircraft crashed in Val Bormida, between the provinces of Cuneo and Savona, without damage to people or properties.
Alenia has set up an internal technical commission to investigate the accident.
This is the second crash involving an M-346, On 18 November 2011 a prototype, which had been on display at the Dubai Air Show crashed after departing Dubai on return to Italy.
The twin-engined M-346 is an advanced new generation lead-in fighter trainer capable of imparting fifth generation fighter training.
