Safety
Human error cited in Milan fatal collision
Italian accident investigators have concluded that human error on the part of two German pilots of a Cessna Citation CJ2 was the main cause of a fatal coll

Italian accident investigators have concluded that human error on the part of two German pilots of a Cessna Citation CJ2 was the main cause of a fatal collision with a McDonnell Douglas MD-87 at Milan Linate Airport on Oct. 8, 2001. But the recently published accident report by the Agencia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo also heaped strong criticism on airport and ATC authorities, blaming them for seriously inadequate safety procedures and taxiway signage.

A total of 118 people died when the CJ2–operated by German charter firm Air Evex–collided with a SAS MD-87 taking off from Runway 36R. All aboard both aircraft were killed, along with four airport workers in the baggage area of the airport’s main terminal, in which the MD-87 came to rest.