Municipality of Olgiate Olona
This website and the spirit that animates it arise from the desire to honor the memory of the plane crash of Olgiate Olona of June 26, 1959 and the seventy immortal lives whose mortal body fell to the ground that day; moreover, this website is intended to build bonds of solidarity with the persons linked by blood, love and friendship to the seventy immortal lives.
the memory of June 26, 1959
President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano (1925-2023) expressed on several occasions his appreciation for the commemorative events of June 26, 1959, that he rewarded with his medal in 2011. In 2019, President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella sent a message of ideal participation to the ceremony of the 60th anniversary, and greeting to the relatives of the seventy immortal lives.
Persons, institutions and enterprises share the spirit of the commemorative events inspired to June 26, 1959 and support the commemoration in various ways.
Commemoration of June 26, 2024
Commemoration of June 26, 2024
Stay updated on the news and the events promoted in memory of June 26, 1959
Featured story - February 7, 2025
Fifteenth edition of the educational project in memory of June 26, 1959
In 2025, all 127 third-grade students of the Dante Alighieri school in Olgiate Olona will attend the 15th edition of the educational project in memory of the plane crash promoted with the support of the Municipality and the collaboration of Beato Contardo Ferrini Institute and the teachers of Literature. The conversation in classroom titled Olgiate Olona 26 giugno 1959-2025. Settanta vite immortali tra memoria e solidarietà (transl. Olgiate Olona, June 26, 1959-2025. Seventy immortal lives betweek memory and solidarity) will take place on Monday February 17, Tuesday February 18 and Wednesday February 19, 2025; then, the students will produce written works that will be sent anonymously to the jury outside the school who will choose ten most deserving works, the ones that best render the historical fact and the spirit that animates the commemorative events.
Friday June 26, 1959. The town of Olgiate Olona was miraculously saved from a plane crash (the fifth worst disaster of civil Aviation in Italy) which shocked all the world: the Trans World Airlines (TWA) four-engine Lockheed L-1649A Super Constellation Starliner Jetstream (reg. No. N7313C) - flight 891: Athens-Rome-Milan-Paris-Chicago - just taken off from Milan-Malpensa Airport during a storm, was struck by lightning and crashed in flames losing the engines and the rudder; the fuselage with seventy people on board (they were from eight Countries: USA, Italy, United Kingdom, France, Chile, Germany, Egypt, Israel) crashed near Cascina Agnese missing the town for a few dozen of meters. All the people on board perished and the prompt intervention of rescuers was vain. The corpses were recovered on June 27, 1959, and the coffins were brought to the basilica of St. John the Baptist in Busto Arsizio where on June 29, 1959, the funerals were celebrated. The investigation of the Judiciary ended with the dismissal of the case, while the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) confirmed that the breaking up in flight was due to a lightning that ignited the fuel vapors contained in tank No. 7 coming out from the vent outlets.
The oral tale handed down by eyewitnesses became unlikely and turned into legend. In 2008 Alberto Colombo reconstructed the plane crash in his book Il disastro aereo del 26 giugno 1959 a Olgiate Olona (translation: the plane crash of Olgiate Olona of June 26, 1959) and the memory of the fact came back to life thanks to the initiatives promoted by the Municipal Administration: restoration of the memorial monument, Commemoration of 50th anniversary (2009) with naming of via 26 giugno street, commemorative stone, “Ape” car symbol of solidarity in memory of seventy immortal lives (in operation until January 2016), book Settanta vite immortali. Volume commemorativo 50° anniversario disastro aereo 26 giugno 1959 Olgiate Olona (translation: Seventy immortal lives. Volume commemorating the 50th anniversary of Olgiate Olona plane crash of June 26, 1959); educational project with the students in the eighth grade of Dante Alighieri school of Olgiate Olona started in 2010; in 2011, medal of the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano (acknowledgment of the high value of the commemorative events of June 26, 1959) and stone in memory of the 118 victims of Milan-Linate air disaster; in 2013, publication of this website; in 2016, total conservative restoration of the memorial monument; in 2019, message of greeting to the relatives of the seventy immortal lives, and of ideal participation in the 60th anniversary sent by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella.
Fatality struck seventy lives and tortured only their mortal bodies which fell to the ground: their spirits rose to immortality instead. For the seventy immortal lives of June 26, 1959 is worth what the Bible says: The souls of righteous are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them anymore (Sap 3,1). The relatives of these righteous have silently and with dignity turned their great sorrow into a gift: for their loved ones, for new generations, for the community. We are not allowed to change the History already happened. What was done in Olgiate Olona so far and what still will be done is only the essential that we are allowed to do: pray, honor the immortal lives and their loved ones by remembering and with acts of solidarity.
Alberto Colombo
Messages received
December 24, 2024
Wishing each of you a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! (...)
John
December 21, 2024
Merry Christmas to you all and to the people of Olgiate Olona. Thanks for your wonderful work! (...)
George
December 20, 2024
Merry Christmas to you all. May Peace and Joy illuminate your path (...)
Claudia and Annamaria
December 19, 2024
I take this opportunity to wish you all a very peaceful Christmas (...)
Silvana
July 2, 2024
I am sorry not to have attended the ceremony on last June 26th, due to institutional commitments that cannot be postponed, and I sincerely thank you for the demonstration of gratitude received(...)
Esmeralda
June 27, 2024
Thank you Mr. Colombo for having allowed us the possibility to learn the event and be able to commemorate it; it will remain for us a pleasant meeting (...)
Group of friends of Senago
June 26, 2024
My sincere thanks for being a constant source of comfort for our family, as well as the families of all of the victims of June 26,1959. I can’t thank you enough. I am so grateful for (...)
John
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