June 27, 1980 an Itavia flight from Bologna to Palermo, Sicily, fell into the sea for unknown reasons. 81 passengers and crew members were killed.
For 40 years there have been many theories about the causes of the disaster. The most common hypothesis is that the machine was shot down by French or American forces, because NATO exercises were taking place at that time. There was also a suspicion that the Italian plane was mistaken for the machine of the then Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, which they wanted to shoot down.
In 2013, the Italian Supreme Court ruled that they exist “indisputable evidence that flight No. IH870 was hit by a stray anti-aircraft rocket”. The court ordered the Italian state to pay compensation to relatives of the victims for not guaranteeing the safety of the flight by means of civil and military radars.
A previously established commission claimed that the reason was the explosion of a bomb planted by an unknown individual in the toilet.
In connection with Saturday’s anniversary of the catastrophe organized in Bologna, President Mattarella wrote in a special statement: “You cannot give up the task of explaining what is still unclear in the events of this dramatic evening.”
– Finding the final answers, full and unambiguous reconstruction of the facts requires the involvement of institutions and open cooperation between allied countries with whom we share common values - stated the head of state.
He emphasized: “The obligation to seek truth is of fundamental importance to the Republic.”
Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, President of the Italian Senate, declared: “40 years after the massacre that caused the deaths of 81 innocent people, Ustica requires justice.”
She added that the whole country is waiting to explain the causes of the tragedy.
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