A horrific tragedy unfolded at Milan Bergamo Airport when Andrea Russo, a 35-year-old Italian builder from Calcinate, lost his life after being sucked into the engine of a Volotea Airlines aircraft on July 8, 2025, at approximately 10:20 AM local time. The incident occurred when the Airbus A319, operating flight V73511 to Asturias, Spain, had 154 passengers and six crew members taxiing for departure. This shocking event led to the temporary closure of the airport and widespread disruptions, while raising urgent questions about security and mental health support.
The sequence of events began when Russo arrived at the airport in his red Fiat 500, driving erratically the wrong way on an access road before abandoning the vehicle near the terminal. Authorities confirmed he was neither a passenger nor an employee. He entered the arrivals area on the ground floor and breached a restricted zone by passing through an emergency security door, gaining direct access to the aircraft parking area.
Two police officers gave chase as Russo sprinted toward the taxiing Volotea plane. Witnesses reported that he initially threw himself against the protective casings of the aircraft’s right engine before moving to the left engine, where he was either sucked into the propeller or deliberately threw himself into it. The speed and chaos of the moment left authorities unable to intervene in time.
Passengers on the Volotea flight and nearby aircraft watched in disbelief as the tragedy unfolded. One passenger recalled,
“I saw a man running away from the stewards. At first, he threw himself against the casings, the protections of the right engine of the plane, then he went around and either threw himself or was sucked into the impeller of the left engine.”
Another witness, initially mistaking it for a bird strike, later realized the gruesome reality, noting the profound shock that gripped those who saw the aftermath. The visceral impact left many traumatized.
Andrea Russo was a local man known in his hometown of Calcinate. He was a hardworking individual striving to overcome personal challenges. Police sources revealed he had a history of drug problems and had spent time in a recovery center, though he had reportedly been sober for some time. Friends described him as “honest” and determined to rebuild his life. The mayor of Calcinate expressed the community’s grief, calling the incident a stunning and saddening blow. Investigators found Russo’s car filled with various materials, but nothing illuminated his motives, leaving his actions a mystery.
The incident halted all operations at Milan Bergamo Airport—Italy’s third-busiest, serving over 17 million passengers annually—from 10:20 AM to noon. At least 19 flights were canceled, and several others were rerouted to Bologna, Verona, and Milan Malpensa. Volotea Airlines acted swiftly, rescheduling the affected flight for 3:55 PM and providing psychological support to passengers and crew shaken by the event. The airline also offered counseling to help witnesses cope with the trauma.
This echoes a disturbing trend: in 2024, similar incidents occurred at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and in Salt Lake City, while a 2023 case in San Antonio, Texas, was ruled a suicide. Italian authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine how such a breach occurred and what preventive measures are needed.
Russo’s struggles underscore the need for robust systems to help individuals in crisis. Public Prosecutor Maurizio Romanelli emphasized that understanding the “why” behind Russo’s actions remains a key focus of the inquiry.
