No civilian casualties reported after Tornado jets crash near Ascoli, eastern Italy, after colliding during training mission

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Two Italian Tornado fighter jets yesterday collided over eastern Italy during a training mission, crashing into a wooded area which then caught fire.

A civil protection official, Susanna Balducci, told Italy's Sky TG24 TV there were no civilian casualties on the ground after the crash on Tuesday afternoon above woods near the town of Ascoli, but she had no details about the fate of those aboard the aircraft. Four people are believed to be missing – two pilots and two navigators.

Defence ministry officials said they were awaiting an official report from the area before making a statement.

Balducci said a firefighting helicopter was trying to extinguish the blaze, whose flames and dark smoke were visible several miles away.

Witnesses quoted in Italian news reports said they saw two military planes flying low near Ascoli, then heard a crash and saw flames.