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Italy: Generals indicted for air crash cover-up

01 September 1999

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Judge Rosario Priore indicted four air force generals on charges of undermining constitutional bodies and high treason relating to the cover-up of circumstances surrounding the crash of a civilian DC9 aircraft on 27 June 1980 in which 81 people died. Priore excluded the possibility that the crash had been caused by structural failure or a terrorist bomb, as had been repeatedly suggested, claiming it was an undeclared "act of war" by NATO forces against a Libyan Mig plane. Generals Lamberto Bartolucci, Zeno Tascio, Corrado Melillo and Franco Ferri are accused of attempting to prevent magistrates from discovering the truth about the crash. The cover-up included lies, the suppression and tampering of radar evidence, hiding the discovery of the crashed Libyan jet which was officially "discovered" on 18 July, and denying that NATO forces were in the area.

According to Priore, the air force must have had government approval for the cover-up because: "The decisions by the military personnel were of such an extent and seriousness that it seems impossible that there was no authorisation from a higher level." Likewise, he seems convinced of an American military presence in the area, "There was an aircraft carrier, there were airplanes, and then lifebelts, helmets (one was of someone called John Drake) and acoustic buoys were found", and hypothesises an American air attack against a foreign aircraft.

The Italian government has informed its NATO allies of the findings, in the hope that they will help to shed light on the tragedy. The UK, France and the US have all previously denied involvement, but Giovanni Pellegrino, president of the Massacres Commission, observed that parliament has a duty to encourage the Italian government to investigate internationally "asking precise questions about specific facts" to Libya, NATO and allied countries.

Avvenimenti, 12.9.99.; Corriere della Sera 2.9.99.; Il Messaggero, 10.9.99.; La Repubblica, 3.9., 4.9.99.; Times 3.9.99.; Guardian 1.9.99. The findings are available at: link Dossier: Le conclusioni di Priore.l

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