The city of Matera gathered at the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola to mourn Angela Buccico, a 55-year-old attorney who died following the crash of an ultralight aircraft in Calabria. The funeral service drew family members, regional officials, and residents who packed the church to bid farewell to the prominent lawyer, whose death occurred during the Ferragosto holiday weekend alongside her colleague and companion, Carlo Arnulfo.
The Fatal Flight and Investigation into the Crash
The tragedy unfolded on the morning of August 16, when Buccico and the 64-year-old Roman attorney Carlo Arnulfo departed from Capo d’Orlando in Messina aboard a Tecnam P2008 ultralight aircraft bound for Sibari. The aircraft never reached its destination, crashing instead into the mountainous area of Alto Tirreno cosentino in the locality of Laghicello di Fuscaldo. Investigators from the Paola Procura have launched an inquiry to determine the exact cause of the crash, noting that the small aircraft was not equipped with a black box.
An autopsy performed at the policlinico “Germaneto” di Catanzaro by an expert team led by Professor Isabella Aquila established that both professionals died on impact. The examination revealed evident impact and fire trauma. Legal medicine consultants appointed by the families—including Professor Francesco Introna and Mirko Massimilla for the Buccico family, and Antonio Oliva for the Arnulfo family—participated in the procedure. Investigators have given forensic consultants up to sixty days to file their comprehensive reports, while the wreckage of the aircraft was recovered by fire department units and transferred to an Air Force hangar in Vibo Valentia for analysis by military and civilian aviation experts.
Community Mourning and Official Attendance at the Santuario di San Francesco di Paola
During the service celebrated by Father Francesco Gallipoli, family members demonstrated their legal heritage when Buccico’s sister placed the deceased attorney’s professional robe atop the coffin as it left the church.
Regional and local dignitaries attended the mass to express condolences to the Buccico family, including Matera Mayor Antonio Nicoletti, Basilicata President Vito Bardi, regional assessors Cosimo Latronico and Franco Cupparo, alongside numerous municipal councilors and local citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who were the victims of the ultralight crash? The victims were Angela Buccico, a 55-year-old attorney from Matera, and Carlo Arnulfo, a 64-year-old attorney from Rome.
- When and where did the accident occur? The crash took place on August 16 in the mountainous area of Laghicello di Fuscaldo in the Cosenza province, while the aircraft was flying from Capo d’Orlando to Sibari.
- What aircraft was involved? The flight was operated using a Tecnam P2008 ultralight aircraft that did not carry a black box recorder.
- Who is investigating the incident? The investigation is being overseen by the Procura di Paola, with forensic analysis conducted by university medical experts and technical consultants appointed by the judicial authorities and the victims’ families.