La tragedia del Grande Torino / Football tragedy
IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE
La magnífica basílica barroca de Superga, a les afores de Torí, té literalment una altra cara molt tràgica. I quan dic literalment, em refereixo a que es troba just al mur posterior del edifici de la basílica.
En aquest mur s'estavellà el 4 de maig de 1949 un avió de la companyia ALI (Avio Linee Italiane), morint al instant tots els 31 ocupants. Les victimes incloïen 18 membres del equip de futbol del Torino FC, conegut aleshores com el Grande Torino, dominador de la lliga italiana als anys 40.
El Fiat G.212 de ALI provenia de Lisboa, on havia recollit els jugadors del Torino després d'un amistós contra el Benfica. L'aparell feu una escala a Barcelona-El Prat, precisament. Apart de la tripulació també hi anaven la directiva i diversos periodistes. En acostar-se per aterrar a Torino-Aeritalia, hi havia molta boira i vent. Els pilots feren una aproximació per instruments, però es produï algun error (potser el vent els desvià, o l'altimetre funcionà malament, no se sap del cert), i l'avió es dirigí directament contra Superga. A aquella velocitat i baixa visibilitat el pilot no va tenir temps ni de reaccionar.
Despres del desastre, el Torino fou proclamat per aclamació campió de la lliga, i per la seguent temporada, cada equip de la lliga italiana donà un jugador al Torino. La angoixa fou tan gran, que la selecció italiana va anar al Mundial de Brasil de 1950 en vaixell.
ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accident_aeri_de_Superga
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The magnificent baroque basilica of Superga, on the outskirts of Turin, literally has a very tragic rearside. And when I say literally, I mean it's right on the back wall of the basilica building.
On May 4, 1949, an ALI (Avio Linee Italiane) plane crashed into this wall, killing all 31 occupants instantly. The victims included 18 members of the Torino FC soccer team, then known as Grande Torino, which dominated the Italian league in the 1940s.
ALI's Fiat G.212 came from Lisbon, where it had picked up the Torino players after a friendly against Benfica. The airplane made a stop at Barcelona-El Prat to refuel. Apart from the crew, the management and several journalists were also on this flight. On approach to land at Torino-Aeritalia, there was a lot of fog and wind. The pilots made an instrument approach, but something went wrong (perhaps the wind led them astray, or the altimeter malfunctioned, we don't know for sure), and the plane headed straight towards Superga mountain, to the back of the basilica. At that speed and low visibility the pilot didn't even have time to react.
After the disaster, Torino FC was proclaimed champion of the league by acclamation, and for the following season, every team in the Italian league gave a player to Torino. The anguish was so great that the Italian team went to the 1950 World Cup in Brazil by ship.
La tragedia del Grande Torino / Football tragedy
IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE
La magnífica basílica barroca de Superga, a les afores de Torí, té literalment una altra cara molt tràgica. I quan dic literalment, em refereixo a que es troba just al mur posterior del edifici de la basílica.
En aquest mur s'estavellà el 4 de maig de 1949 un avió de la companyia ALI (Avio Linee Italiane), morint al instant tots els 31 ocupants. Les victimes incloïen 18 membres del equip de futbol del Torino FC, conegut aleshores com el Grande Torino, dominador de la lliga italiana als anys 40.
El Fiat G.212 de ALI provenia de Lisboa, on havia recollit els jugadors del Torino després d'un amistós contra el Benfica. L'aparell feu una escala a Barcelona-El Prat, precisament. Apart de la tripulació també hi anaven la directiva i diversos periodistes. En acostar-se per aterrar a Torino-Aeritalia, hi havia molta boira i vent. Els pilots feren una aproximació per instruments, però es produï algun error (potser el vent els desvià, o l'altimetre funcionà malament, no se sap del cert), i l'avió es dirigí directament contra Superga. A aquella velocitat i baixa visibilitat el pilot no va tenir temps ni de reaccionar.
Despres del desastre, el Torino fou proclamat per aclamació campió de la lliga, i per la seguent temporada, cada equip de la lliga italiana donà un jugador al Torino. La angoixa fou tan gran, que la selecció italiana va anar al Mundial de Brasil de 1950 en vaixell.
ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accident_aeri_de_Superga
===================================
The magnificent baroque basilica of Superga, on the outskirts of Turin, literally has a very tragic rearside. And when I say literally, I mean it's right on the back wall of the basilica building.
On May 4, 1949, an ALI (Avio Linee Italiane) plane crashed into this wall, killing all 31 occupants instantly. The victims included 18 members of the Torino FC soccer team, then known as Grande Torino, which dominated the Italian league in the 1940s.
ALI's Fiat G.212 came from Lisbon, where it had picked up the Torino players after a friendly against Benfica. The airplane made a stop at Barcelona-El Prat to refuel. Apart from the crew, the management and several journalists were also on this flight. On approach to land at Torino-Aeritalia, there was a lot of fog and wind. The pilots made an instrument approach, but something went wrong (perhaps the wind led them astray, or the altimeter malfunctioned, we don't know for sure), and the plane headed straight towards Superga mountain, to the back of the basilica. At that speed and low visibility the pilot didn't even have time to react.
After the disaster, Torino FC was proclaimed champion of the league by acclamation, and for the following season, every team in the Italian league gave a player to Torino. The anguish was so great that the Italian team went to the 1950 World Cup in Brazil by ship.