What happened
On the morning of October 8, 2001, an SAS MD-87 was preparing for departure from Milan-Linate airport under conditions of heavy fog, with visibility estimated between 50 and 100 meters. The aircraft, carrying 104 passengers and a crew, received clearance to takeoff from runway 36R. Simultaneously, a Cessna 525A CitationJet 2, registration D-IEVX, was taxiing from the General Aviation apron toward its next destination in Paris.
While following taxiway instructions, the pilot of the Cessna 525A CitationJet 2 mistakenly turned onto taxiway R6. During this movement, the aircraft crossed the holding point and entered the active runway. As the MD-87 was accelerating down the runway, it struck the Cessna 525A CitationJet 2. The impact caused severe damage to the MD-87, including the loss of a main landing gear leg and the separation of the number 2 engine from its pylon.
Following the collision, the MD-87 remained airborne for approximately 12 seconds before descending abruptly. The aircraft struck the runway with its remaining gear and wingtip, then skidded across a service road and crashed into a baggage handling building, causing a partial collapse of the structure. There were no fatalities reported among the passengers or crew.
Findings
Investigations identified several contributing factors that led to the collision:
- The primary cause was a runway incursion by the Cessna 525A CitationJet 2 after the pilot followed an incorrect taxi route.
- Extremely low visibility significantly hindered situational awareness for both flight crews and air traffic controllers.
- Inadequate airport infrastructure, including non-standard or missing taxiway markings and signs, contributed to the navigational error.
- Communication breakdowns occurred due to the use of non-standard phraseology and a mix of Italian and English languages.
- The airport's ground movement procedures were insufficient for managing high traffic volumes during low-visibility operations.