DC-9 I-Tigi Itavia, flying from Bologna to Palermo with radio call IH870, disappeared from the radar screen of the Rome air control center at 20.59 and 45 seconds on 27 June 1980. The plane crashed in the Tyrrhenian Sea, in international waters, between the islands of Ponza and Ustica. At dawn on 28 June, the bodies of the first of the 81 victims (77 passengers, including 11 children, and four crew) were discovered.
ANSA Agency Ustica massacre: decision on today’s request for dismissal. Association asks to continue – News – Ansa.it On 27 June 1980 the Dc9 Itavia crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea after being shot down, causing 81 deaths. (HANDLE) Flight IH870 was late leaving ‘Guglielmo Marconi’ airport in Borgo Panigale, at 20.08, instead of the scheduled 18.30 that Friday evening, and was expected to arrive at Punta Raisi airport in Sicily at 21.13.
At 20.56 Commander Domenico Gatti announced his imminent arrival speaking to “Roma Control”. The flight took place regularly at an altitude of approximately 7,500 meters without any irregularities reported by the pilot. The aircraft, as well as Ciampino (Rome), were in range of two air defense radars: Licola (near Naples) and Marsala. At 21.21 the Marsala center informed the Martina Franca (Taranto) air defense operations center of the plane’s failure to arrive in Palermo.
ANSA Agency Ustica: 45 years of trials, still no answers – News – Ansa.it Rome Prosecutor’s Office asked to dismiss: ‘There is no evidence regarding the perpetrator’ (ANSA) A minute later the Martina Franca Rescue Coordination Center began rescue operations, alerting various air force, navy and US troop centers. At 21.55 the first search helicopter took off. Passenger ships and fishing boats were also diverted to the possible crash zone.
At 7.05 on 28 June the remains of DC 9 were visible. The search operation continued until June 30, the bodies of 39 of the 81 passengers, the tail of the plane, various debris and some of the victims’ belongings were recovered.
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