Operation dedicated to recovering the remains of the Italian Air Force Experimental Flight Test Department aircraft from the seabed off Terracina, which crashed into the sea on 24 September.
With the dismantling of the final logistical module from the pier at Terracina, today marked the conclusion of the Italian Air Force operation dedicated to removing the wreckage of the Eurofighter from the seabed, which tragically crashed into the sea on 24 September during the final phase of its display routine at the air show. A specialist marine intervention unit of the Italian Air Force worked alongside representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, the Lazio Region, ARPA, other Armed Forces and State Corps, as well as the Municipality of Terracina.
The recovery operations at sea were carried out by personnel from the 15th Wing and the 17th Raider Wing, featuring highly specialised divers operating at depths ranging from 25 to 30 metres, who completed over 550 dives across approximately 80 actual working days. Weather and sea conditions, which were at times prohibitive, frequently slowed down the operations of the divers, which began on 8 January and concluded on 31 May.
Operational and logistical support was provided by personnel and assets from the 3rd Wing, the 16th Air Force Fusiliers Wing, the 70th Wing, the 2nd and 3rd Engineering Departments of the Italian Air Force, and the 4th Telecommunications, Air Defence and Air Traffic Support Brigade. The 1st Aircraft Maintenance Department catalogued all the recovered wreckage at Latina military airport, which remains at the disposal of the investigating authorities.
