Italian Air Force Instructor and Teen Trainee Killed in Plane Crash

A devastating tragedy has struck the Italian Air Force after an instructor pilot and his teenage trainee lost their lives in a plane crash inside a national park.

The victims have been identified as Colonel Simone Mettini, an experienced flight commander, and 19-year-old trainee pilot Lorenzo Nucheli.

According to reports, the two-seater training aircraft disappeared from radar before being discovered by fire brigade and Air Force helicopters in a forested area. The plane had crashed and caught fire, killing both on board instantly.

Authorities confirmed that no one was on the ground at the time of the crash, which occurred on October 1st.

Before his death, Col. Simone Mettini served as commander of the Air Force’s 70th Wing, one of Italy’s key training divisions.

He joined the Italian Air Force in 1997 and logged more than 4,000 flight hours over his career. For the past year, he had been training future military pilots at the Latina Air Base’s flight school.

Mettini leaves behind his wife and two children, colleagues said in heartfelt tributes.

His trainee, Lorenzo Nucheli, had joined the Air Force in August and was preparing for his first military pilot’s license. His dream was to serve as a full-fledged Air Force pilot.

Italy’s Defence Minister expressed deep sorrow, stating: “They say a pilot never dies – he just flies higher – but I cannot hide the deep sorrow I feel at this tragic news.”

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also paid tribute, adding: “My thoughts, and those of the Government, are with the families of the victims, the Air Force, and the entire Defence community.”