Story ID: 
Preliminary Report: Learjet 45 suffers birdstrike
By: David A. Lombardo
Caption: 
BOMBARDIER LEARJET 45, MILAN, ITALY, JUNE 1, 2003
–At approximately 3:26 p.m., Learjet 45 (I-ERJC), operated by Linate-based air-taxi opera
Word Count: 142
BOMBARDIER LEARJET 45, MILAN, ITALY, JUNE 1, 2003–At approximately 3:26 p.m., Learjet 45 (I-ERJC), operated by Linate-based air-taxi operator Eurojet Italia, crashed after takeoff from Milan Linate Airport. The airplane reportedly struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff, and airport officials later found the charred remains of six birds on the runway. Both pilots were killed and the aircraft was destroyed when the crew attempted to return to the airport for an emergency landing and apparently lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft was being repositioned and had no passengers on board. Pilots who saw the accident from the ground estimated the aircraft climbed no higher than approximately 200 feet; after hitting the birds, the aircraft was seen turning to the right. It then “rolled over and crashed” into an empty industrial building. The Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo is conducting the investigation.