A of two pilots died and the other was injured after a trainer jet manufactured by Leonardo crashed during a “test flight” near the city of Como in northern Italy, the defense group said Wednesday.
the causes of the accident are investigated, state control group noted in a statement, adding that it was premature to speculate on the cause.
The twin engine light combat jet, an M-346, had taken off of Leonardo’s later factory in in the morning “after the checks required to authorize the theft, which were carried out just before taking-off,” the group noted in A declaration.
A Leonardo test pilot and an instructor pilot from an outside company were on board.
The flight plan included tests to demonstrate specific capabilities tested on several previous flights, the group noted.
Half an hour after takeoff, contact with the plane was lost. The rescue team then located the wreckage in a mountain area near Como. The instructor pilot from the external company was found dead.
“The high-society direction of Leonardo expresses his deepest condolences for the death of the pilot and joins in Sorrow of the family,” It said.
The company said it created an internal committee to investigate the disaster.
Shares in the group firm down 4.9% to 8.68 euros ($9.53), just above an intraday low of 8.64 euros after the company confirmed the accident.
