Cavalese Cable Car Disaster 1998

On February 3, 1998, a U.S. Marine EA-6B Prowler jet on a low-altitude training mission tore through a ski resort tram cable near Cavalese, Italy, while traveling at 540 mph. The severed cable sent a gondola plummeting 250 feet, killing all 20 passengers aboard.

Amazingly, the jet managed to land safely, but outrage followed when the pilots were acquitted of manslaughter. They were later dismissed from the Marine Corps for destroying incriminating evidence, a videotape of the flight, leaving the Cavalese Cable Car Disaster a lasting source of anger between Italy and the United States.

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