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Britons dead in Italian air crash | |
(20 minutes later) | |
Two British citizens have died in a plane crash in Italy, the Foreign Office has said. | Two British citizens have died in a plane crash in Italy, the Foreign Office has said. |
John Ritchie, 81, and Kevin Young, 54, were travelling in a light aircraft when it came down near Rovereto in the north west of the country on 1 June. | John Ritchie, 81, and Kevin Young, 54, were travelling in a light aircraft when it came down near Rovereto in the north west of the country on 1 June. |
According to reports, the Italian pilot and his wife were also killed. | According to reports, the Italian pilot and his wife were also killed. |
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said that the next of kin had been informed and that consular assistance was being provided. | A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said that the next of kin had been informed and that consular assistance was being provided. |
'Very experienced' | 'Very experienced' |
The plane had taken off from Nicelli airport in Venice and stopped in Trento before crashing during the return leg of the trip. | The plane had taken off from Nicelli airport in Venice and stopped in Trento before crashing during the return leg of the trip. |
All four victims are understood to have belonged to the Flying Rotarians, part of the Rotary International organisation. | All four victims are understood to have belonged to the Flying Rotarians, part of the Rotary International organisation. |
The Italian pilot, named as Vittorio Rossetti, was "very experienced", the Gazzettino newspaper said. His wife, Marinella, who is also believed to have died in the crash | The Italian pilot, named as Vittorio Rossetti, was "very experienced", the Gazzettino newspaper said. His wife, Marinella, who is also believed to have died in the crash |
Engine failure was the likely cause of the accident, the newspaper added. | Engine failure was the likely cause of the accident, the newspaper added. |
According to the AP news agency, the aircraft came down in a ravine of the Borcola Pass, 50 miles north of Verona. | According to the AP news agency, the aircraft came down in a ravine of the Borcola Pass, 50 miles north of Verona. |
An accident reconstruction reportedly suggested the single-engined Socata Tampico aircraft had crashed in thick woodland, rolled for some distance and caught fire. | An accident reconstruction reportedly suggested the single-engined Socata Tampico aircraft had crashed in thick woodland, rolled for some distance and caught fire. |
Witnesses told the Italian press they had seen the aircraft flying at a low altitude before dropping sharply to the ground at about 1630 local time (1530 BST). | Witnesses told the Italian press they had seen the aircraft flying at a low altitude before dropping sharply to the ground at about 1630 local time (1530 BST). |
During the weekend the Rotarians held a conference in Venice, which included a trip to an aeronautical museum in Trento. | During the weekend the Rotarians held a conference in Venice, which included a trip to an aeronautical museum in Trento. |
The Italian air safety agency has begun an investigation. | The Italian air safety agency has begun an investigation. |