Introduction
On a local training sortie from Naval Air Station Sigonella, an Italian Air Force Harpoon from the 87th Squadron was involved in a midair collision with another Italian Air Force Harpoon, registration MM80065, which was carrying a crew of four. The circumstances leading to the collision remain unclear.
Accident
Following the collision, both aircraft lost control and dove into the ground, crashing in the vicinity of Vaccarizzo, approximately 15 kilometers south of Catania. The debris was found in a wasteland less than a kilometer from the beach.
Aftermath
Both aircraft were completely destroyed in the impact. All nine crew members on board the two Harpoons were killed. The wreckage was recovered from the crash site.