We use cookies on our website.
Some of them are necessary for the functioning of the site, but you can decide about others.
Crazy moment a small plane dangerously take off in middle of a ski mountaineering race
On April 26, 2025, the Mezzalama Trophy, a prominent ski mountaineering event, saw Michele Boscacci and Robert Antonioli take first place with a record time of 4 hours, 29 minutes, and 19 seconds. French competitors Axelle Mollaret Gachet and Emily Harrop won the women's event in 5 hours, 23 minutes, and 25 seconds. The race began in Breuil-Cervinia and concluded in Gressoney-La-Trinité, attracting over 700 athletes and numerous spectators, all under favorable weather conditions.
However, a concerning incident occurred shortly before noon when a small tourist plane, a Piper Pa18 from a Swiss flying club, landed dangerously close to the race participants and crowd at Colle Sesia, which is at an elevation of 4,230 meters. After briefly touching down among the spectators, the plane took off again and reached Geneva later in the afternoon. This incident raised significant safety concerns regarding the overlap of aerial activities and crowded events.
From a transportation perspective, this incident underscores the need for stricter regulations regarding airspace management, particularly near public events. Authorities should enforce no-fly zones during such high-density gatherings to prevent potential accidents. The incident not only posed a risk to the participants and spectators but also highlights an ongoing challenge in ensuring the safety of various modes of transportation operating in close proximity to one another.
However, a concerning incident occurred shortly before noon when a small tourist plane, a Piper Pa18 from a Swiss flying club, landed dangerously close to the race participants and crowd at Colle Sesia, which is at an elevation of 4,230 meters. After briefly touching down among the spectators, the plane took off again and reached Geneva later in the afternoon. This incident raised significant safety concerns regarding the overlap of aerial activities and crowded events.
From a transportation perspective, this incident underscores the need for stricter regulations regarding airspace management, particularly near public events. Authorities should enforce no-fly zones during such high-density gatherings to prevent potential accidents. The incident not only posed a risk to the participants and spectators but also highlights an ongoing challenge in ensuring the safety of various modes of transportation operating in close proximity to one another.