After twenty-five years, the pain remains, but it has transformed into a commitment to the community, ensuring that a similar tragedy never happens again. Milan remembers the victims of the Linate airport disaster, first with a moment of silence at the city's airport, where the crash occurred at 8:10 a.m., killing 118 people. Then, in the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio, with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Mario Delpini and remarks by the authorities. Seated in the pews are the husbands, wives, children, siblings, and grandchildren of the 118 people who lost their lives that day, as well as the sole survivor of the disaster, Pasquale Padovano, who worked in baggage handling .
Speaking for them and recounting the pain but also the satisfaction of these 25 years is Adele Pesapane Scarani, president of the October 8th Committee, which brings together the victims' families . That day, she lost her husband, Maurizio, who was 49. Adele is "happy," even if it seems absurd to say so, but "we, the families, have faced this pain by working to ensure that laws were passed for greater safety, in flights and at airports," she explains, "because no one should have to experience this tragedy. We have taken our voices to the places where safety is built, and today this culture has improved; this is the most important victory."
Now the October 8th Committee is fighting for another step forward, to ensure assistance, psychological and otherwise, for the families of accident victims, on all modes of transport, "something we have lacked." During the remembrance, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala appeared emotional, and he couldn't be otherwise, given that the Linate disaster also affected him personally. His friend and colleague at Pirelli, Alberto, was taxiing on that SAS flight to Copenhagen, which collided with a private Cessna that had accidentally entered the runway, subsequently crashing into a baggage handling building.
"Over these 25 years, the October 8th Committee has demonstrated something simple to say but difficult to do," he emphasizes, "namely, that suffering can be a catalyst for civic engagement and can become concrete action for the community. If there is greater safety at airports today, it is also thanks to their initiatives." They all agreed that, even after the improvements achieved, the work on safety can never be considered finished; we must never let our guard down. . "The deaths at Linate have a message; they are an encouraging symbol," he observes. "They tell us: hold your heads high, look ahead, and act with determination and intelligence so that the disaster never happens again, as far as it depends on humanity and the technology we can use."
