A British glider pilot has died after his aircraft lost altitude and crashed into woodland during a world flying competition in northern Italy.
Jon Gatfield, 68, crashed on the slopes of Monte Grem in Bergamo, Lombardy, throughout the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix yesterday.
The race had begun earlier within the day in Varese, near the Swiss border.
Based on organisers, Jon had been flying alone in his motor glider when it suddenly began losing altitude at around 3.30pm.
One other pilot collaborating within the race spotted the aircraft descending abnormally and raised the alarm.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, mountain rescue crews and a helicopter emergency service, reached the crash site inside minutes, but Jon couldn’t be saved.
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The experienced British pilot had been competing alongside 15 other glider pilots from across Europe on the international event.
Reports said he had won the opening race of the competition the day past after completing a 205-kilometre route in only over two hours.
Pilots were expected to finish the course through the mountains before returning to the airfield near the Swiss border.
Witnesses mountain climbing near Monte Grem said they initially watched several gliders circling above the mountains before realising something had gone incorrect.
One hiker said: ‘I saw it fall and heard the crash.’
Investigators are actually examining whether the crash can have been attributable to a medical emergency, a technical problem or pilot error.
Carabinieri officers from Clusone opened an investigation under the supervision of prosecutor Giulia Angeleri.
Italy’s National Agency for Flight Safety also announced it could send inspectors to the scene.
Competition organisers suspended the remaining races following the tragedy.
In an announcement, organisers said: ‘It’s with profound sadness that the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix organisation proclaims the tragic lack of British pilot Jon Gatfield throughout the opening of the thirteenth series in Varese.
‘Despite the rapid and coordinated response, we lost a deeply respected friend and a faithful pilot.’
Organisers also described Jon as a widely known figure within the international gliding community who had taken part in quite a few European and world competitions through the years.
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