The Second Cavalese Cable Car Disaster | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror

[@FascinatingHorror]

For the full story of the First Cavalese Cable Car Disaster in 1976, you can watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaa9p4KAZqqMq6s

[@EdReypapi23]

The bhola cyclone

[@mancuniangamecat8288]

Weird how one person from each incident had the same surname and both caused it.

[@ArchTeryx00]

I'm a pilot myself and have seen very detailed breakdowns of the disaster. The fact is, this crew was very well known for hotdogging and they took an LAS mission to mean "fly as low as you like and pretend you're in a Top Gun movie." Even the act of *taping* themselves should have got them court-martialed. Burning the tape afterward would have been taken in near any court as "consciousness of guilt" and absolutely as obstruction of justice and destroying evidence. It didn't take very much time at all for the crew to put two and two together while airborne and realize they'd hit a cable - and exactly what that meant. By the time they landed, they already had all their false alibis prepared and their stories straight. And the US military *always* covers for its own. Because of KZbin limitations the OP couldn't show most of the photos taken of the destroyed gondola, but I've seen the real pictures the Italians took. The snow was covered in blood and body parts. The impact force was estimated to be 250+gs - far more than any human body can remain intact through. And those pictures were published throughout the Italian media. I would have been baying for their blood too, if it was my relative that got killed like that.

[@XXSkunkWorksXX]

Quite so - and the American military and diplomatic departments have plenty of form for this behaviour. Plenty. The Americans think they can act with impunity anywhere in the world they choose and by and large that is exactly what they do. Is it any wonder half the planet detests the US...

[@absurdist5134]

Well said.

[@marygoround1292]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@pepebeezon772]

They did get court martialed, twice

[@TedDiabetes]

This.

[@caffiend81]

I remember when this happened and being absolutely appalled. There's a factor of 7.5 between 80m and 600m. The entire crew was full of shit and lying. We should have let the Italians handle them.

[@miapdx503]

Absolutely

[@skwervin1]

I agree. I remember this accident and they should have had the book thrown at them and be in Leavenworth prison today.

[@helenevillemure9178]

It is my impression as well. Besides, if trained airmen cannot tell the difference between 80 and 600 metres, they definitely should not be flying. Or be sent to gliding school... maybe they could handle a 80 metres tow... :)

[@Ozymandias1]

Italy does send people to jail for things like this, see the video about the first disaster.

[@Niskirin]

@@Ozymandias1 You mean the case where the wrong people were sent to prison while the actual perpetrators, the administration, walked free?

[@MrDlt123]

I was stationed at Aviano in the US Air Force when this all went down. I was horrified, and incredulous those men got off so light. Not only did they get away with killing people, but they deliberately destroyed pertinent evidence! Those images I saw of smashed bodies laying in the snow. The Italian people had every right to be angry.

[@GenXfrom75]

It was manslaughter. Not murder.

[@Cykotyk]

​@@GenXfrom75that's an odd hill to die on.

[@GenXfrom75]

@@Cykotyk not dying on any hill. But they didn’t murder those people. Murder is a deliberate act with intent to kill. They caused their deaths. That’s manslaughter.

[@MrDlt123]

@@GenXfrom75 I was speaking figuratively, not by the legal definition.

[@Lerxst]

@@GenXfrom75 That's negligent homicide, not manslaughter. Manslaughter would mean they did not mean to fly that low, but they did mean to fly that low, and the negligence led them to murder 20 people.

[@sarahr9894]

I remember watching the "Seconds from Disaster" epidode about thus tragedy where they interviewed obe or two of the pilots. He had no remorse at all and in fact was still mad that they got court marshalled. That interview convinced me 100% the crew is guilty as sin and were flying low on purpose and videotaping it to feed their egos.

[@Ozymandias1]

It's a scary thought that he may now be flying airliners.

[@pomerau]

@@Ozymandias1 That's what I was wondering. Freedom of information and all that. Someone must know.

[@Unownshipper]

I must've missed that episode of "SFD." I loved that show, it reminds me a lot of this channel. Still, I don't think I would try to find that one and watch it. Hearing one or more of the pilots try to defend themselves would make my blood boil. Some people wrap themselves in their own lies like a comfort blanket. Eventually they start to believe it wholeheartedly; it's a defense mechanism. Or they're just a sociopath and utterly lack compassion.

[@sarahr9894]

@@Unownshipper it's season 4 episode 8 I'm pretty sure. If you look up "seconds from disaster cable car collision" you'll find a few reuploads. I really like the show as well.

[@AccidentallyOnPurpose]

Yeah, I remember seeing an interview. I have the belief that he didn't intend for people to die, but when they did he had no remorse at all and just cared about nor ending up in prison where he belongs.

[@ald1144]

Blaming the altimeter is BS. Any pilot can tell the difference between 260 and 2000 feet and certainly their airspeed indicator was working. They were hotdogging and should have been prosecuted as such.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Spoken like a non-pilot. It is easy to misread an altimeter. Been there, done that, and got away with it without incident.

[@Jabarri74]

Checked and found to be working perfectly then the report gets buried. Smacks of a cover up

[@coconutsmarties]

​@@neiloflongbeck5705 Spoken like someone who can't see a freaking mountain 80 metres away in clear conditions.

[@KCzz15]

@@neiloflongbeck5705 It's amazing that you can still get people simping for those obviously in the wrong even in situations like this.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

@coconutsmarties ah, someone who is less smart than their handle. They could see the mountain but couldn't see the cables for the cable cars. Many pilots over the years have come cropper because they never saw the wires across a gap. One glider pilot I knew was hospitalised by a single cable he never saw as the poles holding it up were covered by trees.

[@mr.snippy]

These clowns were 100% goofing off and recording their "fun". I guarantee that they saw the gondola and dared each other to fly below it. How infuriating that they suffered no consequences for taking so many lives AND denying and culpability.

[@SoManyRandomRamblings]

@@mr.snippy exactly this. And that was why they burned the tapes because they could fully redact anything visual and claim military intelligence, so the excuse of their smiling faces being why they destroyed evidence is B.S. ....they would however have a harder time explaining away editing the audio, and I fully believe that the audio would have them bragging they can fly under the line. (And I have the s on tapes intentionally because they probably have past footage of them or others doing that same thing more than once)

[@Chaotic_Observer]

Absolutely! Exactly he felt the need to burn the film! Coward! He was being a sloppy idiot. They all were.

[@arnenelson4495]

YOU cannot guarantee ANYTHING

[@dx1450]

This is exactly what I suspect as well. Even if your altimeter is broken, you can tell the difference between 200 ft and 2000 ft.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

@@arnenelson4495 Agreed but I think it is possible this tragedy resulted from a bet or dare or show off stunt.

[@craigpridemore7566]

El toro poopoo. 'We didn't know we were so low.' (basically 1,700 ft. below legal flight limits). That would be like saying, "I looked out the window of a glass elevator and I didn't know if I was on the 4th or 40th floor because the indicator light didn't work.'

[@SoManyRandomRamblings]

@@craigpridemore7566 perfect analogy. Lol

[@MundMoriginal]

A window in a glass elevator would be quiet the waste of handy man work time.

[@darraghmckenna9127]

The anger towards the Americans even appeared in a sopranos episode, during filming an old man shouts at Paulie 'you cut our ski-lift cable”

[@jonusjonus9271]

I remember that line! I always wondered what he meant by that. Thanks.

[@thingywotsit9246]

@@jonusjonus9271 Is that the episode where he goes to Italy and hates it? So funny.

[@darraghmckenna9127]

@@thingywotsit9246 yes !

[@crashstitches79]

Commendatori!

[@darraghmckenna9127]

@ -.-

[@LeloTheUnamused]

I'm Italian and I was 6 when this disaster occurred. I still remember the newspapers, the outrage, the television news, and the anger and disappointment after they all got to walk free in the end. I don't think I've ever met an Italian (of about my age or older) that _didn't_ believe it all happened due to a deliberate choice in unprofessional conduct

[@Unownshipper]

As an American who's learning about this event for the first time, I'm appalled. There aren't adequate words. The loss of innocent lives is horrifying, the blatant misconduct of the crew both during the event and afterwards is sickening, and the reluctance of our government to provide compensation is shameful. They were clearly hotdogging, and when they got caught, they lied and destroyed evidence of their crime. It's unfathomable they weren't suitably punished.

[@fluxvisionimagery]

I was deployed to Aviano at that time. I had bricks thrown through my windshield and/or eggs thrown at my car every time I left the base.

[@bajscast]

@@fluxvisionimagery Sorry to hear you got screwed because of these jackoffs and their defenders

[@Irdelphine]

I used to know one of the young Belgian who died in that accident. She was 23 and just finished her law studies. I can not describe how devastated her parents were during years after that. The trial was a real violence for this family, the never really recovered. 😢

[@Jazzinthedark84]

I'm so sorry for your loss and for her family. No one should be made to endure this

[@DTAM-Aviation290]

I couldn’t imagine the anger and devastation they must have felt

[@chocolatechip12]

If you can't tell the difference between 80m and 600m, you have absolutely no business piloting a plane.

[@nsahandler]

Not saying I disagree with you, BUT maybe he didn't know the relative size of the cable car?

[@gst013]

Absolutely ridiculous excuse. .."We got confused"

[@MrE-y7v]

So because they do know the difference, but wanted to play games, then they should be pilots? WOW

[@MrCanadaben]

@@MrE-y7v That is absolutely not what the OG comment meant....

[@wkboggs5]

No question…They were hot dogging. Knowing full well they were below minimums. 😢

[@Sasuhinagirl1]

"I burned the tape because people would get mad at me." *literally just was part of causing an accident that killed 20 people* I hate to break it to you dude, but people will be mad at you no matter what because of what you did

[@zorfmorf2414]

It's pretty obvious that they knew the tape would incriminate them, knowingly flying extra low and showing off.

[@peterhoulihan9766]

@@zorfmorf2414 At the very least he should have been convicted for destruction of evidence. Edit: Nevermind, he got obstruction.

[@lillyclarity9699]

"I don't want people to think I committed the crime I accidentally committed on purpose" does not equal "I didn't want people mad at me" pretty clear he understood people were going to mad at him. he didn't want to spit on the corpses of the victims he just killed by having a tape of him smiling and enjoying the view immediately before the accident. considering the media's love affair with tabloid reporting, it's not an unfounded fear. Besides, he probably didn't need to even burn the tape. If he cried to his superiors in the military, they probably would have covered it up. It's not like the crash was his fault - he was just the navigator, after all, and that's shown by the fact that he escaped receiving a prison sentence. Also, just so you both understand, you *do* know that a navigator of the plane isn't the one who is flying the plane, right? If the two fratboy flightboy military cowboy jackasses wanted to fuck around, horse about, and fly their plane lower than they are supposed to, you do understand that the navigator really can't do much other than say mean words to them, right? He's not even in the same room, really - they communicate via intercom. It amazes me that people can pay half attention to a ten minute video on a topic and pretend like they're experts on the topic

[@Pretzil43]

​@@lillyclarity9699 Who's job would it be to look at the envelope marked "new map"?

[@Gelgisith]

@@lillyclarity9699 While it isn't normally the navigator actually flying the plane, he can do so, since he is in a front seat, with flight controls at his disposal. IOW, he is one of the two cowboy fratboy flyboys.

[@alexpd308]

I find it incredibly hard to believe that tape was burned because a smiling face on camera might have become bad optics in the media. I think it more likely held evidence of just how reckless they were actually being.

[@Rubyrubits]

It's sad, but one can easily imagine some "bro" spouting nonsense akin to, "HaHa, bet you can't fly under that gondola." "Oh yea? WATCH ME!"

[@Joy-TheLazyCatLady2]

As an American and a veteran, I am ashamed that more was not done to make amends to the families of the victims and that the two men were acquitted. They should have paid for their negligence. This disaster should never have happened. RIP all of you poor souls. 💔

[@Petboch]

From someone in Italy I thank you for this comment, your much better pilot than the four baboons In that prowler.

[@MyKharli]

Add it to an enormous list

[@madhippy3]

As an enlisted marine I am said to say tI am not surprised this is how my officers could have acted.

[@thebumpercar1344]

It was Newt Gingrich and his Republican House that voted against it just because Bill Clinton wanted it. The GOP has always been the party of deliberate cruelty.

[@earlwheelock7844]

NO WONDER THE ITALIANS ( and other Europians call us " THE UGLY AMERICANS!!!) If that was an Italian plane, flying over the rockies, and hit a gondola cable , killing 20 Americans while HOT DOGGING!!, BET THE CREW WOULD STILL BE IN PRISON!!! ( RULES FOR THEE BUT NOT FOR ME!!! typical!!!)

[@seandelap8587]

The fact that they were acquitted was a huge travesty of justice

[@chaminadecrew79]

No its really not

[@foreverpinkf.7603]

"Semper fi" taking care.

[@bigwezz]

​@chaminadecrew79 Yes, it is you absolute melt.

[@EclipseAtDusk]

Welcome to the modern american military 🙃🙃

[@Vertigation]

Welcome to the military where they'll move mountains to protect their officers from murder but will brig a private in a heartbeat for touching a joint

[@FlameExecutioner]

My dad who is in the Italian airforce told me about this and I was so angry. He told me that allegedly pilots tend to fly that low and that fast for fun, as sort of a thrill. I really hate how the people responsible didn't get punished in a meaningful way. But hey, its not surprising, given the countries involved.

[@paulcooper8818]

The actions of America's military and congress were insufficient, arrogant and shameful.

[@massimoamodeo2455]

During the 80s I was learning to ski at Occlini pass, in south Tyrol. Multiple times I saw Italian and American planes flying past at no more than 40m above parked cars and restaurants.

[@itchyshizle]

@@paulcooper8818 You could say that about their entire history. Not just this occassion.

[@paulcooper8818]

@@itchyshizle I wouldn't say the entire history, but certainly there are more examples than this one instance.

[@arhsguy]

You’re all welcome for your freedom.

[@elliottprice6084]

Two "experienced" pilots, flying a plane, couldn't tell the difference between 80 meters and 610 meters. They had been reprimanded for flying too low and fast before this disaster. So why were they allowed to keep flying? The captain's sentence for the death of 20 people was ridiculous, and the navigator should have been jailed for destruction of evidence. And even though compensation was promised by the US, it had to be enforced and paid through treaty laws. Utterly shocking and shameful. RIP to the 20 victims

[@TuriGamer]

Arguing the maps were outdated when they didnt even unpack the new map is huge 🤣

[@Rumpel-r4d]

given that the cable car was operating for several decades (even before the 1976 disaster) how 'outdated' were those maps ? were they drawn from reconnaissance photos of WW 2 ?

[@pavelslama5543]

@@Rumpel-r4d Taken from Mussolini´s own hands back in ´45 probably :D

[@uap24]

Also, I don't know how the cable car lines were ignored in their pre-flight preparations.

[@delorbb2298]

It pissed a lot of us off here in America as well. IIRC, the story was that it was a rite of passage for pilots from that base to fly under the cables.

[@SoManyRandomRamblings]

@@delorbb2298 I am willing to bet money that they would do that...which is why the tape was burned....because anything visual could be redacted for "security reasons", I am willing to be it was the audio of that recording they feared.

[@delorbb2298]

@@SoManyRandomRamblings After it happened, the people who lived there said pilots did this all the time. That they knew the cables were there and were actively trying to buzz through it.

[@SoManyRandomRamblings]

@@delorbb2298 not surprised, disgusted by them, but sadly not surprised

[@scribblemyface]

You covered this incident in one of your first videos. KZbin age restricted the video making it harder to find. I'm glad you redid this. The American government acted so horribly in this case. Truly an injustice to the victims and families involved.

[@SNMG7664]

The US government always gets their military off with no consequences. Real "fuck the foreigners" vibes. The US military personnel from Abu Ghraib are out and about, living happy lives, with no consequences for what they did and that wasn't just negligence and reckless endangerment of others. It was actual torture and murder. Photographs smiling with decaying corpses. Disgusting organisation.

[@ajs41]

How was the original video different to this one?

[@seandelap8587]

He burnt the tape because he didn't want it to be used as evidence thats an admission of guilt right there

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup.

[@ligmasack9038]

Nah, that's called "Pleading the 5th", as he made a Tape that was self-incriminating.

[@VerdeDrums]

Oh wow, you’re the first person to realize that! Surely justice will be served this time!

[@axelbrackeniers5488]

@@ligmasack9038no, its called “tampering with evidence” and its a crime in almost all western countries.

[@axelbrackeniers5488]

Destroying anything that could be considered evidence is a crime in itself. They should have been arrested just for that alone. But ofcourse the US military gets away with everything. Laos, Afghanistan, Korea, Vietnam, iraq, iran… they all remember

[@darkage5]

I call BS all day on the sticking gauge. I was an Aviation Electricians Mate in the Navy. I worked on the altitude systems. The age of the aircraft wouldn't have anything to do with the altimeter sticking. That isn't something that would be a fixed piece of equipment. Gauges get swapped out as needed. Then they are put through a complete altitude simulation. I hated that test set. That also wouldn't be the only altitude reference they would have to go by. That was complete deflection trying to blame the maintainers.

[@dank6852]

How odd a synchronicity that the part-time cable car operator in the first disaster and the navigator of the flight in the second had the same last name, Schweitzer.

[@ayshapaige]

I know it might be just a common name, but I thought the same thing!

[@SteveBueche1027]

The pilot should be held responsible for. He ultimately made the decisions to operate that craft. We all know that tape had all the details we needed to show negligence.

[@stargazer5784]

The EA-6B was a heavily modified version of the A-6 Intruder attack jet. It carried a very extensive EW radar detection and jamming system, a very precise navigation system, superb low level flight characteristics, and with a crew of 4, a heightened level of situational awareness in the cockpit. Jamming and mapping enemy radar emitters was it's job. That mapping had to be precise, so that the intel could be passed on to the Wild Weasels, who could then destroy the emitters with ARMs or some other appropriate ordnance. What I'm leading up to is that the pilot and crew knew exactly where they were, and the cable as well, but the pilot was hot dogging the plane and misjudged how close he was to the cable. He saw it and intended to cut it close, but ended up hitting it. Pure pilot error and poor judgement. IMHO.

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

I believe everything you said to be true, up until "He saw it". Cables slung across valleys are nearly invisible. I frequently fly in mountainous terrain. Cables slung across valleys have huge orange balls hung from the middle of them. Without the warning balls the cables are invisible in most conditions. The slightest haze, the sun in your eyes, the cable(s) disappear, and I'm only flying at 80-90 knots. An EA-6B can fly over 550 knots, as it was noted the pilot was flying too fast, there's no way he saw that cable.

[@AudieHolland]

@@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus "See that cable car packed with Eurotrash? Let's give them an American fly by!!! YEEHAW"

[@CoreKatalyst]

Could I ask what “hot dogging” means? Second comment I’ve seen mention this and I’m curious!

[@paulmayo6006]

​@@CoreKatalystbasically "showing off", or trying to show how cool they are.

[@00calvinlee00]

​@@CoreKatalystHot-dogging, Flat Hatting, those are terms for flying outside of normal parameters. Thinking buzzing a control tower or hangar.

[@cassandrascanlon1378]

As an American I'm so sorry to the families of the victims, I 100% believe they were acting carelessly and our disgusting response as a country to not help those effected or hold these men accountable

[@biazacha]

I 100% believe they were showing off and flying under the cables, the burned tape probably documented all of that.

[@cassandrascanlon1378]

@@biazacha absolutely 💯

[@SNMG7664]

US military personnel face consequences for their horrific actions overseas? Never!

[@zorro1466]

Il vostro personale si comportano come padroni , nella città di Vicenza , risse ,stupri ,violenze , omicidi stradali . Cari americani noi non dimentichiamo nulla ! Credo che sarebbe ora che voi tornate a casa vostra ! Meglio avere Putin alle Porte che i vostri soldati arroganti in casa , impuniti sempre . I vostri reduci della seconda guerra mondiale noi gli vogliamo bene anche oggi , ma agli arroganti e violenti non li vogliamo più nella nostra Patria

[@natowaveenjoyer9862]

@@SNMG7664 Cope, American troops should never be thrown to the wolves!

[@littleblackcar]

Literally nobody believes they weren't showing off. This was shameful.

[@starpawsy]

The story of the "faulty altitude dial" doesnt wash. There is a barometric altimeter in front of each of the two pilots, and a third one in between them. And there is a radar altimeter. Are we to believe that all four were faulty AND that all four showed the SAME incorrect altitude? That stretches credibility beyond elastic limit.

[@tezzanoia]

Not only that, but that difference between lowest allowed height and their actual height is HUGE, you can't tell me that even IF (and I agree that that's more than unlikely) all altimeters didn't work correctly, they weren't able to tell that they were flying significantly lower. I'd maybe get that with being 50 m too low, but over 500 m??

[@vicvega3614]

​@@tezzanoia yea all 4 of them should've gone to prison for 10 years or more

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

@@vicvega3614 The two men in the back can't see out the front, have no altimeters, and can't do anything to adjust the altitude of the aircraft in any case. Yet you want to put them in prison for 10 years? Care to explain why?

[@kittysplode]

@@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus if you were in the back seat egging your friend on to drive like a lunatic and he ran over some kids i 100% promise you there would be charges against you.

[@marcorizzoni9766]

Also, they had been already reprimanded several times for flying too low in the same area. So, unless that few is veeeery unlucky with the altimeters of their aircraft, they were clearly unrepentant hotdoggers…

[@mattsisoler6125]

From an American, I am appalled at this and have been ever since I stumbled across the story one night in college when I was surfing Wikipedia. Deliberately destroying evidence and misleading investigators after accidentally killing almost 2 dozen people, and they walked away free…we should’ve either thrown them in prison ourselves or let them try to figure out a way to get themselves proven innocent in an Italian court of law (which, spoiler, they probably wouldn’t have done). It’s a travesty, and my heart breaks for the families of those who perished because a couple of U.S Marine pilots decided to be stupid.

[@SNMG7664]

US soldiers don't ever face consequences, even when it's entirely intentional and not just gross negligence and a disregard for others. It's disgusting. The monsters behind the torture and murders at Abu Ghraib were out, free of consequences, living their lives, right after what they did. Literal photographic evidence of them smiling and laughing over the decaying corpses of their victims and *nothing* happened. People on the other side of the world two decades on are still struggling with mental health after being subjected to torture. Innocent people, who were children at the time, now unable to move due to the conditions and treatment there permanently destroying their ability to walk. Seeing people they knew murdered, being sexually abused, and so much more - all while these US soldiers are off raising happy little families.

[@zorro1466]

Il personale americano combina guai tutti i giorni , nella città di Vicenza li odiano . Risse , violenze , stupri , omicidi stradali , tante cose che penso che voi negli Stati Uniti non sapete . Altro che vergogna , meglio avere i russi alla porta che voi americani in casa ! Ciao

[@LadyViscera]

Genuinely just one of the most disgusting miscarriages of justice in history

[@KSparks80]

Almost as disgusting as siding with Germany in WWII.

[@adamg7984]

@@KSparks80 Yeah that excuses the modern day scumbag behavior of the USA, right? Two wrongs make a right, yeah?

[@identitycrisisiv160]

​@@KSparks80and that's relevant how?

[@ilmatanela1816]

​​​​@@KSparks80or building a nation on slavery, nuclear bombing civilians (only cases in history), 2 millions of innocent vietnamese victims, supporting the worst dictatorships in Latin America, massacring millions of natives, jailing journalists who exposed your war crimes... the list is long dude. 1945 is the only time you, together with the Russians, have been on the right side of history since when your ancestors stole the land where you are. In our history, fascism was a shame which lasted 20 years and many of us flighted. Many of us gave their life. We are aware of what has been. That's the difference. You are far from being aware of what your politicians have done around the world for decades.

[@ilmatanela1816]

​​@@KSparks80compared to what you did around the world in the last century, and to natives and afro-americans since your ancestors stole the land where you live ...fascism was a mischief

[@charlotteinnocent8752]

I hate coverups. They KNEW they were too low. Even if the dial was faulty they knew it and they didn't gain altitude. The military should NOT have aided a coverup. And Italy should not have had to use treaties to ensure compensation was paid out.

[@davidwillis1672]

Has no one else noticed that both of these disasters (98 & 76) were caused by people with the same surname?? No one else find that strikingly spooky??

[@bunnyofdeath8465]

I HAD TO TRIPLE CHECK FOR A SECOND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAME GUY AND I WAS LIKE "damn he has not had a fun time with these damn cable cars"

[@AwakeAndGrateful]

Insane. The fact that this crew got away with killing 20 ppl; it is obvious they were well aware of what they were doing. And destroying the evidence?! C’mon. Anyone can see through their bs. This case should be brought forward to the public eye, again, and have some proper justice served this time round.

[@Noodle3058]

Man. This just keeps getting worse for those marines. Absolute idiots. You can very easily tell the difference between 200 and 2,000 feet. They should be serving life in prison.

[@Commentator541]

That may be a bit too harsh, but should definitely be set to work day and night until they pay off the gondola and abut a billion usd per victim. If they are as clever as they thought they are it would be paid off in no time.

[@PhilipMarcYT]

​@@Commentator54120 people died and you're saying it's too harsh? Tf.

[@GenXfrom75]

@@PhilipMarcYTlife for an accident? It wasn’t murder.

[@Black-Swan-007]

Life is usually reserved for 1st Degree Murder, not negligence leading to accidental manslaughter.

[@GarrettsGear]

It's really adorable out the people in this comment section have no idea how the law works lol.

[@George_M_]

Showboating murderers. People like that are still around too - I've seen several air force pilots from Travis flying irresponsibly low over the college campus in my area to show off.

[@nysockexchange2204]

If the pilot was willing to burn the tape and suffer the consequences, it must've been really bad. I wouldn't be surprised if the officer bet or challenged the pilot to fly under that wire.

[@UAPandFriends]

The fact that a country worth literal trillions of dollars.. having to be _forced_ to pay compensation after "accidentally" killing 20 innocent people is utterly abhorrent. USA should be ashamed of itself.... AGAIN.

[@toastoverlord2166]

It appalls me too, but it doesn't surprise me, our congress would do anything to not have to take responsibility for something.

[@princessmarlena1359]

As an American I say “Good luck with that…” though I don’t disagree with you at all.

[@SoManyRandomRamblings]

@@toastoverlord2166 agreed our congress is fully against accountability

[@loganmeline9233]

What do you mean, "AGAIN"? That was a shame. All countries have reason for shame. Stick to the specific incident.

[@jtgd]

@@loganmeline9233no no. “America bad!”

[@enhompe2]

I lived in the Po Valley in the 80's. One afternoon a fighter jet from Aviano flew over my house at an altitude of no more than 300 feet. It was deafening. Most of these pilots were hot-doggers without supervision. The supervisors (or lack of them) needed to be scrutinized too! I'm still mad about this.

[@JacksonKillroy]

Thank you for covering this. I've been fascinated by this case ever since I was a child and it dominated the news for weeks, because it happened very close. The images of the smashed cable car and blood covered snow are seared into my memory.

[@bizzyizzy9526]

He forgot to mention that the first responders to this disaster discovered that all of the victims' faces were contorted in fear and terror. Several of them hugging each other trying to comfort themselves in their last moments. Truly horrifying and heartbreaking 😱

[@WildSuppositions]

If that's true then they most likely saw the jet flying in their direction. Truly appalling that they had no real consequences for their reckless behavior.

[@KSparks80]

Can you state where you found that information?

[@ilmatanela1816]

​@@KSparks80yep I am also curious. I thought they found them with their faces showing beatitude, bliss and pleasure.

[@RalfJosefFries]

I was in vacation in the italian alps the 3rd of february 1998 some 20 miles north of Cavalese - and the local population told me in discussions after the incident that more than 8 times before that day, american airplanes from the Aviano Base tried to explicitly fly below the cables of cablelines it was suggested that there was a kind of challenge organised between the pilots based in Aviano, who did the most spectacular "stunt"... and that this "stunts" were filmed each time to proof how sectacular the "performance" of the crew was... But what really made the italians in this region angry, was that the crew of this flight was directly after landing, without debriefing, (some 2 hrs 30 minutes later) transfered ia special flight first to Ramstein AFB in Germany, and the same day, transferred from there, again with an military direct-flight from Ramstein AFB to an US Airbase in the USA. The italian justice and police tried in Aviano to speak with the crew of the flight - but they were gone - and the commanding officers rejected to answer the questions of the italian police and justice due to "security considerations"... Many italians considerd this "handling" of the situation by the US Airforce as something, that you do when you are an occupation force in an country, but not when you are an allied friendly nation.

[@zorro1466]

Gli americani non sono una nazione amica , dopo questo ed altri fatti !!Sono una nazione occupante , sono passati 79 anni dalla fine della guerra è ora che tornino a casa loro , ad ammazzare la loro gente

[@lanpingpug]

I was on holiday in Italy with my mum when this happened and when I asked a young lady in the street for directions she spat at me and cursed at me for being an American murderer. I didn't understand why she was so angry and started to cry. My mum shouted at her that we were both English and an elderly lady came up to me and started wiping my tears away, while telling the younger woman off in Italian. My mum didn't read any newspapers so she wasn't really aware of what was going on, only that a cable car had fallen and they thought a plane hit it. The younger woman just walked off and the elderly lady took us to a café where she bought me an ice cream and explained to my mum all the details of the incident. She was very apologetic and kept holding my hand.

[@zorro1466]

Pensa ,che 2 anni fa ,una soldatessa americana ubriaca ,ha ucciso con la sua automobile un ragazzo di 15 anni ! Non gli è successo niente , se fosse stato mio figlio mi sarei vendicato

[@lanpingpug]

@zorro1466 Can you translate please? I'm sorry but I'm not an Italian speaker.

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

It would have been an accident, if they had not lived, worked, and flown there for 2 years. Even without maps, they knew there were skilifts in the area. Most likely looking at the pretty tourist girls skiing on the mountain.

[@eliaansaloni5763]

Easily the most enraging example, but certainly not the only one, of how US units in Italy treat our country as their playground, certain that they will never be persecuted for it. Disgusting.

[@robertcox1835]

Not just Italy. Wherever th US has bases, personnel are protected by the status of forces agreement which basically puts them above local laws.

[@meetoo594]

@@robertcox1835 Yup, there was a case in the UK last year where the wife of a US serviceman killed a teenager on a moped by driving on the wrong side of the road at speed. They flew her back to America and she has faced no charges and of course the US govt wont extradite her back to the UK, they never do (see also, IRA terrorists and fundraisers}.

[@SNMG7664]

They do this in every country. It is disgusting.

[@vustvaleo8068]

also burning the video tape gave him more alibi against him, he did something stupid.

[@splendidcakes]

As an American I am appalled by and deeply ashamed of this incident. I am so sorry for my country's behavior.

[@SNMG7664]

US soldiers never facing consequences is always so disgusting. They just didn't for a moment stop to consider the danger they were putting others in. They refused to accept any responsibility when they did it. I wouldn't be nearly as mad if they had just said "Yes. This was my fault". But they went out of their way to come u with a story and blame literally anything else they could. This isn't even near the worst the US gets up to overseas without consequences though. Boils my blood every day that people like the monsters behind Abu Ghraib are out, free, without consequences, enjoying life, after torturing, murdering, and sexually abusing tens of thousands of people. We have actual photographs, taken by the US soldiers themselves, in uniform, of them smiling over the decaying corpses of the people they murdered, and they are now free to go about their lives and raise families. Meanwhile the victims, two decades on, continue to live in poverty, struggling with the torture they were subjected to, some who were only children at the time, who are still even now unable to walk or exist as functional people due to the damage they suffered due to treatment or conditions there.

[@themont24]

Love your content. It's informative and respectful. Keep up the good work!

[@kittywonder6415]

Wow they basically said "We investigated ourselves and found us innocent" huh.

[@clray123]

Kinda like those responsible for covid.

[@axelbrackeniers5488]

Kinda like the US government when any incident happens.

[@axelbrackeniers5488]

@@chaminadecrew79 nice rage bait buddy. I personally know the grandchildren of immigrants from Laos that came to Europe because their whole country was carpetbombed by the US. Laos didnt even partake in the Vietnam war, nor were they harboring Viet Cong. The Viet Cong simply retreated into Laos and the US saw that as a good opportunity to kill 200K civilians. Thats more casualties than the 2 nuclear bombs on japan.

[@neilkurzman4907]

@@clray123 no because there was no investigation into was Covid real. And nobody found themselves innocent. Who found themselves innocent the Chinese take a dump on some other post. 💩

[@neilkurzman4907]

@@axelbrackeniers5488 I’m not going to defend what my country did to Laos But they know they weren’t in innocent bystanders. They allowed the Viet Kong to use their country to transport supplies.

[@1aml3g3nd13]

I was in the brig at Camp LeJeune when these guys were in there. Needless to say, they were in solitary and no one could look at them when they were being transported around.

[@luisr.m3297]

Hello! It would be great if you made a video about the Torre del Bierzo accident, one of the worst railway disasters in history. I love your content, greetings from Spain!

[@Diptera_Larvae]

When your last video popped up about the cable car accident, I immediately thought you were going to talk about this incident, I had no idea both happened in the same place. I feel so sorry for all the families.

[@GrimGearheart]

Sometimes I wonder what people like this are doing now. Ashby, for instance. Is he working a regular job? Do his coworkers know he's a killer? Is he using an assumed name?

[@ChaosMagnet]

If he hasn’t changed his name, it’s almost guaranteed that his coworkers know. Someone always googles the new guy’s name, and a juicy bit of gossip like that would make its way around an office at warp speed!

[@spitfire_2]

I was wondering the same thing.

[@kila11]

His co-workers subscribe to Fascinating Horror.... "uhhhhhh hey guy, something you wanna tell us?"

[@AnUnnaturalNaturalDisaster]

Alexandria was still alive during the second disaster.. imagine hearing about it. How devastating it must be to know what you went through and then watch the same thing happen to others. Heartbreaking.

[@Lady.Starlight.]

Your lost cable car video had me searching up related incidents. The amount of times the government has killed people with low flying planes or plane related incidents like this, and got away with it with little to no repercussion is disgusting...

[@njwpoo666]

Not just American!

[@Lady.Starlight.]

@@njwpoo666 I didn't say American!

[@nathanholton5335]

As an American, I feel disgusted by this. My sympathies & condolences go out to all of those poor people who were murdered -- Yes, I said that right -- by such irresponsible & reckless marines, as well as to their families & friends for this horrible tragedy. It breaks my heart to know that my countrymen did something like that to 20 innocent civilians & escaped justice for their crimes.

[@SNMG7664]

US soldiers never face consequences for their actions. This isn't a one-off. It's so disgusting. They just didn't for a moment stop to consider the danger they were putting others in. They refused to accept any responsibility when they did it. I wouldn't be nearly as mad if they had just said "Yes. This was my fault". But they went out of their way to come up with a story and blame literally anything else they could. This isn't even near the worst the US gets up to overseas without consequences though. Boils my blood every day that people like the monsters behind Abu Ghraib are out, free, without consequences, enjoying life, after torturing, murdering, and sexually abusing tens of thousands of people. We have actual photographs, taken by the US soldiers themselves, in uniform, of them smiling over the decaying corpses of the people they murdered, and they are now free to go about their lives and raise families. Meanwhile the victims, two decades on, continue to live in poverty, struggling with the torture they were subjected to, some who were only children at the time, who are still even now unable to walk or exist as functional people due to the damage they suffered due to treatment or conditions there.

[@nathanholton5335]

@@SNMG7664 Yes, you are correct about that; & it is appalling. It’s easy to understand why they hate us - Americans - so much for doing such awful things. I just hope they understand that it’s mostly our government & military to blame for it & not its people. I’m just as disgusted & outraged, as most of my fellow American civilians, just as much as you & they are about these despicable actions. Most of us are truly not like that; we’re mostly all good, honest, hardworking people who love our families & just wish to live our lives in peace with others, just like the rest of you.

[@yorgokarna6801]

Even if their altimeter was faulty, which was clearly a lie, any pilot could tell the difference between the 80 metres they were flying and the minimum permitted 610 metres. They should all be serving life sentences but of course the US military acquitted their own.

[@GenXfrom75]

The US Military doesn’t often acquit “their own.”

[@domesticterrorist483]

Every plane has redundancy in primary flight instruments, the co pilot has his own set, so they knew full well what their altitude was at all times.

[@yorgokarna6801]

@@GenXfrom75 it most certainly does

[@GenXfrom75]

@@yorgokarna6801 ok. 👌 guess that’s why so many service members are currently serving sentences in places like Leavenworth.

[@yorgokarna6801]

@@GenXfrom75 that's the exception rather than the rule. You are either being deliberately obtuse or you are clueless about what your country does.. Either way, putting down that star spangled banner for a bit might help you see more clearly if you want to see the truth that is 🤷

[@Indoor_Carrot]

Just think. There are some Americans so brainwashed by the 'cult of military' that they would "thank" these men for their "service" and buy them a beer. Not everybody in a uniform is a hero. Some are just horrible people. Yet they get endless praise and admiration.

[@triumph.over.shipwreck]

Lmao such ridiculously binary thoughts

[@MrCtsSteve]

I can't imagine being on one of those clean up crews .

[@katrinafitch3534]

They were definitely showing off.. I'm not a pilot but I love roller-coasters. 200ft is quite different than 2,000ft by eye sight!! This was human error and highly infuriating. Thanks again FH, you did a great job breaking this one down.

[@GBEdmonds-j1i]

I'm a former vet of the United States military. Never let it be said that our government and military never passes up an opportunity to pass the buck and screw the families of accidents like this. (See the USS IOWA TRAGEDY )Its the same when we do things like leave a billion dollars worth of military hardware to the enemy like we did in Afghanistan. It really is puzzling how we hang our hats on words like Honor commitment integrity and faithfulness only to act like a bunch of caged animals in situations like this. I'm sorry for what we did. I hope those who were tragically taken and their families find peace one day and dont let hate ruin their lives. God bless.

[@lornaginetteharrison7168]

4 months in prison for murdering 20 innocent people. Disgusting.

[@jenniferlonnes7420]

Ashby and Schweitzer should've been forced to help clean up their mess as punishment. This was hugely embarrassing, and I was angry at the hubris these US Airmen had.

[@aquachonk]

I'm even angrier at my country for not compensating the families nor disciplining the criminals properly.

[@AndreasGlad-rq7vx]

No.

[@michaelkantner6420]

Sorry to correct you, but they aren't Airmen. That term is usually reserved for the Air Force, these officers were Marines.

[@jenniferlonnes7420]

@@michaelkantner6420 No prob.

[@michaelkantner6420]

@@jenniferlonnes7420 I appreciate it very much.

[@redwoodii6226]

It’s 5am here in America. I’ve tossed and turned all night, opening KZbin to try and get some relief, and I’m reminded how nice it is to follow content-makers in the UK - 6 hours ahead.

[@PhilipMarcYT]

They're 5/6 hours ahead depending if it's DST or not (it is now).

[@larrymcgill5508]

This was not the first time a Marine EA6B squadron’s negligence and recklessness has caused death and destruction of innocent lives. In 1981 a Marine EA6B crashed on board the USS Nimitz due to overindulging in cold medicine. 14 were killed and 45 seriously wounded.

[@cuddlepaws4423]

I've seen another documentary about this where they interviewed Schweitzer. He did indeed burn the cassette, then placed a fresh tape in the camcorder. This he did before leaving the plane. The ground crew thought it odd at the time since he should have got out immediately, being as the plane was damaged and leaking fuel and was therefore at risk of combustion. I guess covering up what they were doing, namely showing off and filming it, came first. And yes, of course they got away with it, it was a foregone conclusion given where they came from.

[@tamahagane1700]

They were horseplaying and filming inside the cockpit with video camera, later burning the tape (destroyed the evidence), got away with it.

[@mugsbugsly2975]

Wild coincidence that the first accident had an operator named Schweizer and the second a pilot named Schweitzer.

[@DeeL-u1c]

I remember this case. Didn't realize it was the same cable car service as first video. Geez, those Top Gun Maverick types.

[@dennis2376]

Thank you and have a great week.

[@rachaelcourtnell7275]

You just wouldn't believe it would you? Two accidents on the same cable car line. They should never have been flying there!! There is plenty of room in other places to fly low.

[@ja37d-34]

Was the second even an accident?

[@davidglass5742]

In 2013 six Russians were killed in a snowmobile crash at Cavalese. They were descending an illuminated piste at night when the driver switched to an unlit black run, lost control and crashed into a ravine. The area is a disaster magnet. Great skiing, though.

[@SoManyRandomRamblings]

@@rachaelcourtnell7275 I think they destroyed the tape cuz the audio would reveal that they intended to fly below the wire, fully knowing how risky it was.

[@wtorules4743]

The suggestion they tried to fly under the wire is a compelling one. It’s a shame they couldn’t or were prevented from concluding that. Brilliant video packed with detail. Thanks.

[@bubblegumpurple7525]

No cockpit black box audio recorder? Or did they "forget" to pull from the breaker

[@chrisperrien7055]

Most military aircraft of that time and many of today do not have FDR's , because they are a security risk if the plane crashes and then found by an enemy.

[@RenatoBinotto]

This reminded me of another incident, non-military though: Flight 1907 from Gol Airlines in Brazil. A private American jet supposedly shut of the transponder deliberately not seeing that this flight was in the same area. It cut off the wing and the plane spiraled down in the forest killing 154 people. The pilots were extradited and the penalty was also light.

[@miapdx503]

I just love this channel. As soon as I hear those chords, I settle in for a bloody good story. And I love your voice, and accent. Who knew, horror stories could be my happy place...😏👍🏽💯🔥🌹

[@susanowen1709]

I can't tell you how many times I'll be in traffic on a bridge (for example), and start hearing his voice: "On the second of July, two thousand and twenty-four, traffic was moving at a slow, but steady eight kilometers (or five miles) per hour on the X Freeway interchange, with drivers unaware of the tragedy about to strike."

[@MichaelCZUSA]

Wow! What a story! You never fail to make me thankful for finding your content and learning of new things. It makes my walk through life more circumspect. Thank you for your work, Sir!

[@pl8710]

There is no possible way a trained pilot could not visually tell the difference between 260ft and 2000+ ft without having to rely on instruments. These men are lying

[@jindrariley1824]

This event outrages me on so many levels. Such a needless loss of lives. Thank you for sharing it though. Many things can be learnt from it in order to prevent it in the future 👍

[@sharizabel2582]

I was flying The EA-6B at the time of the incident. There were a number of actions taken that were not covered in this video. All EA=6B flights weather in the Marines or Navy were restricted to no lower than 5000 feet above the ground except for takeoff and landing. Two of the Marine Squadron Commanders were relieved of duty. The four crew Memeber were removed from many of their qualifications. The entire Prowler community took the incident very seriously.

[@AI-Troll]

I visited north italy just days after the accident, we had to drive over the contraption they built over the fallen cable, still crossing the road in the Alps

[@Lunapodthe1st]

A travesty of justice. Absolutely disgusting.

[@Unownshipper]

I *almost* felt a modicum of sympathy for the crew for having a stuck dial. However, even with an improper instrument reading, at least 1 of the 4 crew members should've noted the dramatic difference in the norm for speed and altitude. And then it just kept getting worse! The crew comes off as a bunch of cavalier, hot-shot Top Gun wannabes; and the destruction of evidence, the disregard of current maps, the evident lying over the dial... it makes them craven, contemptuous, and criminal. I have to give it to you FH, you artfully wove a gripping tale of tragedy with highs and dramatic lows. Your careful dissemination of information and evidence winds a listener up and sends them yo-yoing between guarded pity and righteous indignation at the actions of the perpetrators and the ultimate outcome of this tragedy. You're a very talented storyteller.

[@abiwheel5281]

I own a bakery and Tuesdays are our prep day. You always upload just as I am alone in the basement making croissants. Thank you for always giving me something good to watch 🫶

[@jacekatalakis8316]

Not sure which is scarier, negligence from the company running the cable car, or negligence from an air crew that you got no clue was even in the area EDIT: THe negligence part was in reference to the first disaster in 1976, to clear that up

[@Zimin_Anatoly2000]

I know the worst part: all the crew members were acquitted of manslaughter.

[@notapplicable531]

Where do you find negligence on the part of the cable car company? It's not as if the cable car ran off course.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

@@notapplicable531 Negligence in regards to the 1976 disaster, not the 1998 one

[@Skuttleskull]

thanks for the follow up video. I know I probably wasnt the only one to ask for it or you were going to do the second anyways but it feels good that our brainwaves connected in some way lol. best horror channel i watch brother. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@wkboggs5]

As PIC, you are responsible for the operation of the craft. Low-level flight? Eyes better be OUTSIDE the cockpit. 300+ knots at 200 ft? Eyes are definitely outside.

[@SgmScraps]

So much for "Marine Core Honour".

[@georgemallory797]

I'm a pilot. I love our Naval aviators and did everything I could to see this incident impartially as it was unfolding in front of the world at that time. These guys screwed the pooch and got off easy. But for the grace God, there go I. Tragic, horrific, embarrassing, and sad.

[@zorro1466]

Spero che le famiglie di questi piloti vengano in Italia , Così li mettiamo sulla funivia , gli mandiamo un aeroplano gli facciamo provare cosa hanno fatto i loro famigliari , poi il nostro governo dice al vostro governo che è colpa vostra!! Dopo 79 anni che occupate il nostro paese è ora che tornate a casa vostra , dopo 20 anni avete lasciato l'Afghanistan, ma il mio paese è ancora occupato da voi che vi comportate come padroni.

[@zemanken]

Ok I gotta admit I was NOT expecting you to so casually make this a two parter. The title got me. Damn guys.

[@princessmarlena1359]

Those pilots were monkeying around, flew far too low and fast, caused a serious accident/tragedy that was avoidable, and destroyed evidence…it’s a poor craftsman who blames the tools, and a poor pilot and navigator who blames the aircraft/equipment.

[@coleman4725]

I was in the Marine Corps training in the 29 Palms desert of California from 1998-2000. The pilots would do low altitude fly bys of the training facilities ALL THE TIME! They would be flying so fast it was a blur from the ground and It was so loud it would anger everyone because the pilots weren't supposed to do that. Especially if something went wrong with the jets. I'm not surprised with this tragic story. Stupid part is that many Marine officers feel like they are above everything and people should be held responsible for their decisions, but want to play dumb in this case.

[@ThatSalmonGuy]

Basically, never get on a cable car is what I'm gathering

[@paninipanini]

Never do anything. There might American military staff nearby waiting to take your life and never face any consequences

[@marvinidler2289]

They are quite safe, actually. Accidents are very rare.

[@searchanddiscover]

especially after that accident in Italy in 2021. video footage of it and everything.

[@molybdomancer195]

@@paninipaninior wives of US military attaches might drive on the wrong side of the road, kill someone and also get away with it

[@chaminadecrew79]

@@paninipanini please please keep crying

[@Jimvanhise]

Some pilots are cocky and deliberately reckless. Ten years or so ago I was stopped at a rest stop in Arizona when a military jet few over the rest stop no higher than 100 feet! It was the loudest noise I ever heard and I barely had time to cover my ears it was so terribly loud. I've heard since that this was not the only time something like this happened there. When I was living in San Diego in the 1980s some residents complained that one night a jet flew low over their neighborhood. The Naval air station in San Diego was nearby but the Navy claimed they were unaware of any jet in that area, which of course made no sense. The military would be well aware of any nearby aircraft and claiming ignorance was just insulting.

[@dlwhdtjr100]

I learned about this disaster at "Seconds from disaster".

[@abbieconnie2012]

Same

[@lenshibo]

same

[@5amH45lam]

I learned about "Seconds From Disaster" from this comment.

[@lukab6246]

Me too and I absolutely reccomend it to everybody who is interested in such cases.

[@TimNoel2]

Me too

[@AllSingingAllDancing]

Seconds from disaster did a fantastic job covering this. If you get a chance, watch it (this is also fascinating).

[@Aoi_the_Hert]

I love how the president promised that the US would compensate the families and then Congress stopped the funding from even being allocated. The president wanted to help make things better but then politics happened.

[@zorro1466]

Clinton non si è ricordato di nulla , era occupato con Monica Lewinsky

[@Straswa]

RIP to those souls lost in this horrible tragedy, condolences to the families. Such a shame justice was not served here.

[@zorro1466]

Non c'è giustizia quando ci sono gli americani , noi non dimentichiamo e non perdoniamo . Meglio Putin ai confini che gli americani in casa nostra

[@Boog_53]

Classic imperial defense "I'm too stupid to be responsible for the deaths of foreigners"

[@sankai91]

Ooooh, I remember how we used the cable cars for a school trip and someone told me, that there had been an incident. I apparently forgot that it was in italy, but I remember imagining how it was to fall down and got scared from cable cars because of that

[@singthelemur5211]

I found an article Schweitzer wrote where he laments that he has PTSD and how he is a survivor of an aviation mishap where he was misunderstood as a killer. Way to go making yourself the victim buddy.

[@zorro1466]

Spero che quel bastardo stia male tutta la vita , lui e tutta la sua famiglia !