What happened
A positioning flight, intended to transport passengers from Genoa to Amsterdam, departed from Milan-Linate Airport via runway 36R. During the initial climb phase, the aircraft encountered a flock of pigeons, which resulted in a strike to both engines. Following the impact, the crew declared an emergency and notified air traffic control of technical difficulties, though no further specifics were provided at that time.
After being cleared to perform an immediate return to the airport, the pilot began an eastward turn. Approximately one minute and 25 seconds after the departure, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. The plane struck a factory situated roughly 750 metres southeast of the runway 36R threshold. The impact and subsequent post-crash fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were 2 fatalities among the crew.
Findings
The primary factor in the accident was the collision with a flock of pigeons during the takeoff climb, which compromised the functionality of both engines and led to the loss of control.