On May 6, 2025, three MB-339 aircraft from the Italian Air Force’s Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team were involved in a mid-air collision during a display at the Pantelleria Airshow on the island of Pantelleria, Italy. The incident occurred during a formation flight when one jet made contact with two others. Despite the collision, all three pilots managed to land their aircraft. Two jets sustained significant tail damage, and one veered off the runway during an emergency landing. One pilot was hospitalized with a suspected leg fracture. The aircraft involved were numbers 6, 8, and 9. The incident temporarily delayed commercial flights to and from Panteller services to Palermo and Trapani.
The Frecce Tricolori, officially known as the 313° Gruppo Addestramento Acrobatico, Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale (PAN), is Italy’s premier aerobatic demonstration team. Established on March 1, 1961, and based at Rivolto Air Force Base in Udine, the team performs intricate aerial displays using Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN aircraft. They are renowned for their precision flying and are a symbol of national pride.
This incident follows a previous accident on September 16, 2023, when a Frecce Tricolori aircraft crashed during a practice run near Turin, resulting in the death of a five-year-old girl on the ground. The pilot ejected safely, and investigations suggested a bird strike as a possible cause.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the Pantelleria collision. The Frecce Tricolori have suspended upcoming performances pending the outcome of the investigation.
Photo: Archive M. van Leeuwen
