[5] At 12:55 local time the captain reported is position to the Rome Air traffic controller, being above Ostia at an altitude of 23,500 feet (7,500 m).

Meanwhile at 10:45 local time, a formation of four F-86 Sabre's as departed from Pratica di Mare Air Base for a tactical group training exercise on a route prohibited to all civil aircraft flights.

At the same time, after the collision,the military aircraft became uncontrollable due to the loss of the wing, forcing the pilot to eject, with the latter touching the ground few meters from the wreckage.

[6] The pilot, who was seriously injured, was rescued by two farmers and taken to a hospital in Nettuno, where he remained under guard waiting to be able to testify about the incident.

[2] The management of British European Airways (BEA), supported by the local press, heavily contested this reconstruction of the facts.