On May the 11th, a company prototype of the M-346 advanced trainer, registration CMX617, had a technical problem, around 20 minutes after take-off from Turin-Caselle airport, that forced the only pilot on board to successfully eject from the aircraft. Thanks to the perfect activation of the ejection seat the pilot conditions are good.
The aircraft crashed in Val Bormida, between the province of Cuneo and Savona, in North-West Italy, without damage to people or properties.
The fleet of operational M-346, as per standard procedure, has been grounded pending a clarification of the causes of the mishap. Alenia Aermacchi has already set up an internal technical commission to investigate the accident.?

Photo: Rob Vogelaar Z.A.P.P.