Rome – Trieste

On April 20, 2004 at 10:38 AM, Rome – Trieste experienced a crash involving McDonnell Douglas MD-82, operated by Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane, with the event recorded near Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

96 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 96 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 92, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Rome-Ciampino Airport and a normal landing at Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari Airport runway 09, the crew vacated the runway and continued via taxiway Bravo to the apron. The copilot was the pilot-in-command and he was facing sun while approaching the ramp. At the last moment, the captain noticed a dump truck on the right side of the taxiway. He took over controls and elected to turn to the left but the aircraft collided with the truck. The outer part of the right wing was torn off for about 3,5 metres and the fuselage was bent. Also, a fuel tank ruptured, causing a spill on the taxiway. The captain immediately stopped the airplane and all 96 occupants evacuated safely. It appeared that construction works were in progress near the taxiway Bravo. A Notam was not issued about this and the tower controller had not informed the crew either.

Aircraft reference details include registration I-DAWR, MSN 49208/1190, year of manufacture 1985.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 45.8262°, 13.4734°.