A British glider pilot has tragically died after his aircraft lost altitude and crashed into woodland during an international flying competition in northern Italy. Jon Gatfield, 68, crashed on the slopes of Monte Grem in Bergamo, Lombardy, during the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix yesterday.
Incident Details
The race had begun earlier in the day in Varese, near the Swiss border. According to organisers, Jon had been flying alone in his motor glider when it suddenly began losing altitude at around 3.30pm. Another pilot taking part in 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 within minutes, but Jon could not be saved. The experienced British pilot had been competing alongside 15 other glider pilots from across Europe at the international event.
Previous Success
Reports said he had won the opening race of the competition the previous day after completing a 205-kilometre route in just over two hours. Pilots were expected to complete the course through the mountains before returning to the airfield near the Swiss border.
Witnesses hiking near Monte Grem said they initially watched several gliders circling above the mountains before realising something had gone wrong. One hiker said: ‘I saw it fall and heard the crash.’
Investigation Underway
Investigators are now examining whether the crash may have been caused by 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 would send inspectors to the scene.
Competition organisers suspended the remaining races following the tragedy. In a statement, organisers said: ‘It is with profound sadness that the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix organisation announces the tragic loss of British pilot Jon Gatfield during the opening of the 13th series in Varese. Despite the rapid and coordinated response, we lost a deeply respected friend and a devoted pilot.’
Organisers also described Jon as a well-known figure in the international gliding community who had taken part in numerous European and world competitions over the years.
