# CE2004088EN.01045501.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/455 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/455

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(2004/C 88 E/0466)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3190/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(28 October 2003)

Subject:   Promotion of the pilot responsible for the Cermis tragedy

Subject:

On 3 February 1998, a US Maríne Corps aircraft, stationed at the Aviano base as part of the ‘Deliberate Guard’ operation, took off for a low-flight training mission. Shortly after take-off, the aircraft struck the cables of a cable-car linking the village of Cavalese (Trento) with Mount Cermis, at a height of 300/400 feet above the ground, as the descending passenger cabin was at a distance of some 300 metres from the arrival station.

The impact caused the carrier and driving cables to snap immediately, the cabin fell to the ground and all 20 passengers died.

In the proceedings opened to establish who was responsible, the case was entrusted to a US military tribunal, which decided not to punish nor hold responsible the superiors of the four crew members. On 4 March 1999 the eight Camp Lejeune court-martial jurors, all Maríne Corps officers, then found the pilot himself not guilty. This ruling caused surprise, bewilderment and indignation in Italy and other European countries because it seemed to contradict all the evidence and to accept that such a cruel tragedy could occur during a peace-time training flight, without any failure that might cause the aircraft to get out of control and without any criminal liability.

The Italian press has recently revealed that Captain Chandler Seagrave, who acted as navigator during the mission to Mount Cermis and has already been condemned for this multiple killing by the Italian parliamentary committee responsible for investigating the case, has not only remained unpunished for the tragedy which he caused but has recently been promoted to major by the US army.

In view of the extreme affront which this decision represents to the memory of the 20 victims and to members of their families, will the Commission answer the following questions:

| 1. | Will the European Union take a stand on the seriousness of these events? |
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1.

Will the European Union take a stand on the seriousness of these events?

| 2. | What power does the European Union have to investigate these facts and to show the US army in an effective manner that it is appalled at this decision? |
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2.

What power does the European Union have to investigate these facts and to show the US army in an effective manner that it is appalled at this decision?

| 3. | Can the European Union in any way help to ensure that those responsible for this tragedy do not go unpunished? |
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3.

Can the European Union in any way help to ensure that those responsible for this tragedy do not go unpunished?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2003)

(26 November 2003)

This matter raised by the Honourable Member is for the relevant judicial authorities in the United States and Italy. The Commission has no grounds on which to express an opinion.

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