Alitalia plane crashes

The following events are those involving at least one passenger death where the aircraft flight had a direct or indirect role. Excluded would be events where the only passengers killed were stowaways, hijackers, or saboteurs. Only events since 1970 are included.

1. 5 May 1972; Alitalia DC8-43; I-DIWB; flight 112, near Palermo, Italy: The aircraft, which was on a scheduled domestic flight from Rome to Palermo, Italy, flew into the side of a hill during an approach in darkness and poor weather. The crew had not been following established approach procedures. All seven crew members and 108 passengers were all killed
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2. 23 December 1978; Alitalia DC9-32; I-DIKQ, flight 4128, near Palermo, Italy: The aircraft was on a scheduled domestic flight from Rome to Palermo, Italy. The aircraft crashed into the sea about two miles (3.2 km) short of the runway during its approach. The accident occurred in darkness and poor weather. Failure of the crew to follow correct approach procedures contributed to the crash. All five crew members and 103 of 124 passengers were killed.
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3. 14 November 1990; Alitalia DC9-32; I-ATJA, flight 404, near Zurich, Switzerland: The aircraft was on a scheduled international flight from Milan, Italy to Zurich, Switzerland. Due to a variety of crew coordination and technological issues, including faulty navigational radios that provided erroneous glide slope information, the aircraft struck high ground while on approach. The aircraft was in a stable descent that was aligned with the landing runway, but it was also about 1,400 feet below the intended altitude. Shortly before impact, the first officer, who was the pilot flying, elected to perform a go-around maneuver, but the captain overruled him and elected to continue the approach. About 30 seconds later, the crew received a warning from the radio altimeter, but again contined with the approach, striking the ground shortly thereafter. All six crew members and 40 passengers were killed.
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