Cavalese cable-car disaster
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On 3 February 1998, an EA-6B Prowler, an electronic warfare aircraft belonging to the U.S. Marines cut the lines of a ski lift cable-car in Cavalese (in the Italian Alps); twenty persons in a cabin plunged over 80 metres to their deaths. The plane was damaged but was able to return to the base.
Those killed, 19 passengers and one instructor, were all of European nationalities, including three Italians, five Germans and one Pole.
President Bill Clinton apologized for the accident a few days after it occurred, and promised monetary compensation.
The incident strained the relationship between Americans and Italians. There were anti-American protests in Italy, with slogans like "NATO PER UCCÌDERE" (Born to kill), others complained about American use of Italian air bases. Italian prosecutors wanted the four Marines to stand trial in Italy, but an Italian court determined that NATO treaties gave jurisdiction to U.S. military courts. The name given to the accident from the Italians is "The Massacre of Cermis" (Cermis being the name of the nearest town) and it clearly shows the reaction of the Italian public opinion.
Initially, all four men on the plane were charged, but only the pilot Captain Richard Ashby and his navigator Captain Joseph Schweitzer actually faced trial, charged with 20 counts of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide. Ashby's trial took place in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. It was determined that the maps on board did not show the cables and that the EA-6B was flying somewhat faster and considerably lower than allowed by military regulations. The restrictions in effect at the time required a minimum flying height of 2000 feet (600 m); the pilot said he thought they were 1000 feet (300 m). The cable was cut at a height of 360 feet (120 m). The pilot further claimed that the height-measuring equipment on his plane had been malfunctioning, and that he had been unaware of the speed restrictions. In March 1999, the jury acquitted Ashby, outraging the Italian public. The manslaughter charges against Schweitzer were then dropped.
The two men were court-martialed a second time for obstruction of justice, because they had destroyed a videotape recorded from the plane on the day of the accident. They were found guilty in May 1999; the navigator was dismissed from the service and the pilot was dismissed and received a six month prison term. He was released after 4 and a half months for good behavior. (Shortly after his release, Ashby caused a disturbance at a Las Vegas casino and was cited for trespassing.)
In May 1999, the U.S. Congress rejected a bill that would have provided direct monetary aid to the victims' families. The Italian legislature then approved a generous monetary compensation plan for the families in December 1999. NATO treaties obliged the US government to pay 75% of this compensation, which it did.eo:Telferaj akcidentoj de Cavalese