Former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato has made a startling claim about the 1980 Itavia Flight 870 crash, commonly known as the “Ustica massacre.” In a recent interview, Amato stated that the crash was actually caused by a failed attempt by France and the United States to shoot down a plane they believed was carrying Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The Itavia Flight 870, which was traveling from Bologna to Sicily on June 27, 1980, tragically crashed between the islands of Ponza and Ustica, resulting in the deaths of all 81 people on board. The exact cause of the crash has remained a mystery, with no perpetrators identified. While some initially suspected a terrorist bombing, critics have pointed out the lack of evidence of explosive residue in the debris recovered from the crash site.
Amato’s theory suggests that the jet was unintentionally downed during a dogfight between Libyan, French, and US fighter jets. According to him, NATO was attempting to assassinate an “important” Libyan politician, who they believed was on board the plane. Amato went on to claim that the French air force, in collaboration with the Americans, had a plan to hit the plane with a missile. The incident was supposed to be simulated as part of a training exercise, but a missile was mistakenly fired, resulting in the tragic crash.
While Amato did not provide concrete evidence to support his claims, he called on French President Emmanuel Macron to either confirm or refute the allegations. Amato believes that clarifying the truth behind the incident would help “remove the shame that weighs on France.”
These allegations are not completely new. Former Italian President and PM at the time of the incident, Francesco Cossiga, had also blamed the crash on a French missile. Cossiga claimed that Italian spies had tipped off Gaddafi about the assassination attempt, leading him to change his plans and avoid being on the flight.
The Ustica massacre is a deeply troubling event in Italian history, and the search for answers and justice has been ongoing for over 40 years. Amato’s remarks have sparked renewed interest in the case, and there are calls for further investigation into the alleged NATO involvement.
It is important to note that Gaddafi was eventually killed in 2011 during Libya’s civil war, mainly through actions by Western-backed rebel fighters and a NATO bombing campaign. The events surrounding his death also raise questions about foreign involvement and the extent of NATO’s role in the conflict.
As the investigation into the Itavia Flight 870 crash continues, Amato’s claims have received attention and prompted further discussions about the incident. It remains to be seen whether any new evidence will emerge to shed light on this tragic event and potentially uncover the truth behind the Ustica massacre.
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