M-346 Crashed Into Sea off Dubai

The pilot lost control of the M-346 CM.X615 (Prototype 001) Advanced Jet Trainer shortly after taking off and it crashed into the sea three nautical miles from Palm Deira, Dubai, UAE.

The incident happened at around noon on 18 November 2011. The two pilots ejected and both were picked up by the rescue crew. The M-346, piloted by Captain Giovanni Bingley, was heading to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on its way back to Venegono Superiore (Varese) in Italy.  The aircraft had departed from the Dubai Air Show in company with the first T-346A CS.X55144 for the Italian Air Force. The T-346A aborted the flight plan and returned to Dubai International Airport.

The plane lost contact with the control tower soon after taking-off. Both pilots, who are in their forties,  had more than 20 years of flying experience, were still in shock. The pilots were part of a 10-member crew who had come for the airshow.

M-346 CM.X615 (Prototype 001) rolled out of the factory on 7 June 2003. And took it first flight on 15 July 2004.

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