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Last Updated: Monday, 8 March, 2004, 14:23 GMT
Crash officials face prison call
Wrecked hangar
The SAS plane ploughed into a baggage hangar
Italian prosecutors have called for prison sentences of up to eight years for four officials standing trial for Italy's worst air crash.

One-hundred-and-eighteen people were killed at a Milan airport in 2001 when a Scandinavian SAS plane speeding down the runway in fog collided with a light aircraft.

Prosecutors have blamed the crash on human error and inadequate procedures.

The four defendants, who deny charges of manslaughter, are part of a larger group of 11 people on trial.

Prosecutor Celestina Gravina has demanded eight-year terms for three of them.

To think that those who killed 118 people should get eight years makes us a little angry
Paolo Pettinaroli
President of victims' association
They include the former director of Italy's air traffic control authority, Sandro Gualano, Linate Airport director Vincenzo Fusco, and Francesco Federico, who oversees Milan's two airports.

She has also asked for a sentence of three years and 10 months for air traffic controller Paolo Zacchetti, who was on duty on the day of the crash.

Mr Gualano protested against the demand, saying it was made "without providing evidence".

Relatives of some of the victims have also expressed their dissatisfaction.

"To think that those who killed 118 people should get eight years makes us a little angry," the president of the victims' association, Paolo Pettinaroli, was quoted by local media as saying.

No radar

The SAS plane was taking off on a flight to Copenhagen with 110 people on board when a Cessna business jet crossed its path.

Everyone on both planes and four baggage handlers were killed.

The victims included Italians, Danes, Swedes, Finns, Norwegians, a Romanian, a Briton, an American and a South African.

Investigatiors later found the airport's ground radar was out of service.

A verdict in the case is due at the end of March.


SEE ALSO:
Analysis: Dangers on the ground
08 Oct 01  |  Europe


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