Posted on 08/15/2002 6:06:44 AM PDT by 2Trievers
A US military helicopter crew reportedly swooped low over a packed Italian beach so they could ogle the sunbathers.
The American embassy in Rome admits several sunbathers were slightly injured by flying umbrellas and beach furniture in Bari.
The BBC's World Service says the crew also waved at the people below.
US and Italian officials have launched a joint inquiry into the alleged incident.
Reports say the helicopters were on a Nato mission from Germany to the Balkans.
The alleged incident took place over south-eastern Italy.
"ogle"? maybe they were just making wisecracks about hairy legs and armpits.
They were just trying out their new digital camera.
Update:
ROME (Reuters) - The United States and Italy launched a joint inquiry Wednesday into why U.S. Airforce helicopters flew at low altitude over a packed beach, panicking vacationers and leaving five people injured.
The rotating blades of the three helicopters whipped up ferocious whirlwinds as the pilots skimmed along Italy's southeastern coast Tuesday, yanking up umbrellas and scattering beach chairs in their wake.
Italian media have reported that the two large Chinooks and one Blackhawk helicopter only swooped down on the beach so crews could wave to the local beauties sunbathing.
The U.S. embassy in Italy said in a statement that the military helicopters had "caused disruption and injuries to people on the beach."
"U.S. officials, in close cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Defense, have begun an inquiry and will be sending a joint fact-finding team to fully investigate the incident," the statement said.
It added that Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino called U.S. Ambassador Mel Sembler to discuss the affair. "Ambassador Sembler expressed his sincere regret over the incident," it said.
U.S. officials said the helicopters were on a NATO-authorized mission from Germany en route to the Balkans, to support the NATO peacekeeping mission in the region.
Witnesses said the helicopters appeared to slow down as they approached the beach and then waved to the tourists as they clattered overhead, Italian media reported.
The five who were injured were slightly hurt by flying beach furniture.
Witnesses reported seeing the helicopters do the same thing 10 km (six miles) north of the affected beach and then once again further south. No damage was reported at those locations. In 1998, a low flying U.S. jet on a training flight in northern Italy hit the support cables of a cable-car, sending 20 vacationers plunging to their deaths.
Locals accused the pilot of flouting legal flying limits for kicks, but he was acquitted of malpractice by a U.S. military court. He was later sentenced to six months in prison and sacked from the Marines for helping destroy a videotape of the flight.
Of course it is, but I'd bet anything that the story coming out of Rome is highly exaggerated and it even states that five people were "slightly" injured by beach furniture. Someones sand chair probably bumped them on the leg.
Yes, if they are blowing furniture around it means they're hovering or at a near hover within ground effect (30' AGL or less, depending on the type aircraft). Definitely too close to the ground and the beach. The only reason they could justify being that close is if they have authority and intent to land (doubtful) or were attempting a precautionary landing on the beach (also doubtful). I suspect the offending Pilot-In-Command has had his PIC orders pulled by now, or at least, I hope so.
They could have just as easily gotten their jollies by flying just off shore, at a reasonable altitude (100') and airspeed (above 40 KIAS) and have stayed out of trouble in all likelihood.
two large Chinooks and one Blackhawk helicopter
The Chinooks are definitely Army and the Blackhawk is more than likely Army as well.
Far more likely to win the admiration of the beach babes that way. Sand blasting them is just so uncool.
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