During the prestigious Trofeo Mezzalama, a ski mountaineering race on the Monte Rosa massif, a tourist plane performed a dangerously close maneuver near a group of participants. The incident, which occurred at Colle Sesia at an altitude of 4,230 meters, was captured on video by Luca Calzone, a Piedmontese mountaineer who was among those at risk. The footage shows the plane landing on the glacier, then turning sharply and accelerating through the path of ascending skiers before taking off again.
The event, described by witnesses as a 'near-tragedy,' took place on the morning of April 26, coinciding with the Trofeo Mezzalama, a historic race attracting thousands of athletes to the area. Calzone, who shared the video on social media, emphasized the potential for a catastrophic accident, given the crowded conditions on the mountain that day. He has offered to cooperate with Italian and Swiss authorities, as well as the race organizers, to provide further details.
According to registration numbers, the aircraft involved is a Piper Pa18, part of a Swiss aeroclub's fleet. The plane's passage over Colle Sesia was recorded around 11:50 AM, with its final landing near Geneva, Switzerland, later that afternoon. The incident has sparked a debate over safety regulations and the need for stricter controls in alpine regions, especially during large sporting events.
The Trofeo Mezzalama, known as the 'glacier marathon,' is one of the most challenging ski mountaineering races in the world, covering the Aosta Valley side of the Monte Rosa massif between Breuil-Cervinia and Gressoney-La-Trinité. This year's event was marked not only by the athletes' endurance but also by the alarming encounter with the tourist plane, a reminder of the unpredictable dangers present in high-altitude sports.
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