Italian investigators have opened an inquiry into a landing accident at Palermo in Sicily which badly damaged a Wind Jet Airbus A319.
The aircraft came to rest off the runway, with a collapsed main landing-gear and its fuselage in contact with the ground.
Italian air accident investigation agency ANSV has identified the aircraft as bearing registration EI-EDM, serial number 2424.
The twin-jet is an International Aero Engines V2500-powered example, last listed by Flightglobal's ACAS database as being leased from International Lease Finance (ILFC).
ANSV says passengers on the aircraft were evacuated through slides following the accident, which occurred as the aircraft arrived from Rome yesterday.
Images from the scene indicate that the aircraft had been attempting to land on runway 07.
A subsequent NOTAM informed that the airport had been closed to all traffic.
There is no confirmation about the circumstances of the accident but at least one Italian publication is indicating that the aircraft touched down short of the runway.
It also states that the instrument landing system for the airport was damaged by the A319, and will take around three weeks to repair.
Meteorological data for Palermo for the reported time of the accident, around 20:10, showed rain and thunderstorm activity, and reduced visibility.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
