Frecce Tricolori MB-339s Touch in Formation, But Land Safely

Three MB-339 jets from the Italian Air Force’s aerobatic demonstration team, dubbed Frecce Tricolori, collided mid-air during an airshow display. Luckily, despite some substantial damage to the planes, no injuries were reported in the incident.

The team was scheduled to perform on May 6 as part of the Pantelleria Airshow on Italy’s Pantelleria Island. Typically, ten of the Aermacchi MB-339 ‘Pony’ aircraft fly at a time, with nine in close formation and one solo.

During the performance, one of the aircraft hit two others while in formation. The three pilots quickly moved to get their aircraft on the ground. Pony numbers 6 and 9 landed successfully despite having significant damage to their vertical stabilizers. Pony 8 was not quite so lucky, veering off the runway after touchdown and sustaining severe blows to its nose and underside.

“On the early afternoon of today, Tuesday, May 6, during an aerobatic training flight of the Frecce Tricolori at Pantelleria Airport, following the Catania airshow, an abnormal separation of the formation during the ‘cardioid’ maneuver required the interruption of the aerobatic program,” read a statement from the Italian Air Force.

There were no serious injuries reported, though one of the three pilots involved was transported to a nearby hospital for a potential leg fracture. Some commercial flights experienced temporary delays while the planes sat on the runway. As of now, it is unclear how the mid-air will affect the team’s schedule or if the damaged jets can be repaired.

Footage of the incident does not convey any clear cause of the accident. However, unofficial sources listed birds as the culprit.

The Frecce Tricolori currently operate a fleet of eleven MB-339A/PAN single turbojet aircraft, dubbed Pony 0 to Pony 10, plus a few spares. The team is planning to switch these aging planes out for the newer Leonardo M-346 in the near future, with the transition being revealed in September 2024.

FMI: www.aeronautica.difesa.it