Italy: A Couple Escaped Death In Separate Plane Crashes On Same Day

An Italian woman and her fiancé escaped death in two separate plane crashes that happened on the same day. Atonietta Demasi and her 30-year-old partner, Stefano Pirilli miraculously survived the plane crashes that happened 25 miles (over 40 kilometres) apart from each other. They were both in two-seater light aircraft, travelling to a nearby lunch spot in Turin. Demasi suffered a head wound after her plane plummeted to the ground, and Pirilli was rescued from his plane crash unharmed. 

Both pilots are injured, the Daily Mail reported. It was 22-year-old Demasi's first time flying, Pirilli told the Daily Mail, adding that he feels terrible that this was how her experience went. Pirilli said that their day started on a beautiful note but ended with both in separate crashing planes. He said they were fortunate to not have died, adding their thoughts were with the injured pilots.

Reunited After Facing Death

Stefano Pirilli, who escaped the wreckage of a two-seater Tecnam P92 Echo Super, told the Daily Mail that the weather was clear that Sunday, with sunshine and not a cloud in sight. The couple decided to take a joy ride on two light aircraft from their city, Turin, to travel for a lunch date with friends nearby. "It was the perfect day for flying and to have some fun in the air," he said. 

Until it was not; the weather started to get misty later that day. "We fell foul of the weather and the time – the mist started to come up as the temperature dropped and then all of a sudden it was dark," Pirilli said. Pirilli said that they decided to land in Busano, and he called Demasi to inform her.

The pilot of Demasi's plane said he would land at the airfield near San Gillio. However, as they headed to the airstrip, the mist and darkness surrounded their place. "There were electricity cables around and before they knew it, they crashed onto the ground and into a meadow," Pirilli said.

Pirilli said that he managed to call the emergency services when they crashed and then tried calling Demasi but there was no answer. The firefighters turned up and said they had just rescued another plane crash, which is when Pirilli realised Demasi had crashed too. "I rushed straight to the hospital and have been there ever since," he said.