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Events on May 5 in history

Alitalia Flight 112
1972May, 5

Alitalia Flight 112 crashes into Mount Longa near Palermo, Sicily, killing all 115 aboard, making it the deadliest single-aircraft disaster in Italy.

Alitalia Flight 112 was a scheduled flight from Leonardo da Vinci Airport, in Rome, Italy, to Palermo International Airport in Palermo, Italy, with 115 on board. On 5 May 1972, it crashed into Mount Longa, about 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Palermo while on approach to the airport. Investigators believe that the crew had 3 miles visibility and did not adhere to the established vectors issued by air traffic control. It remains the deadliest single-aircraft disaster in Italy, and the second-deadliest behind the Linate Airport disaster in 2001. The incident is the worst in Alitalia's history.

A memorial has been erected at the site of the crash.

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Events on 1972

  • 21Feb

    Sino-American relations

    United States President Richard Nixon visits the People's Republic of China to normalize Sino-American relations.
  • 8May

    Richard Nixon

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  • 22May

    Sri Lanka

    Ceylon adopts a new constitution, becoming a Republic, changes its name to Sri Lanka, and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.
  • 23Jun

    Central Intelligence Agency

    Watergate scandal: U.S. President Richard M. Nixon and White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman are taped talking about using the Central Intelligence Agency to obstruct the Federal Bureau of Investigation's investigation into the Watergate break-ins.
  • 1Sep

    Bobby Fischer

    In Reykjavík, Iceland, American Bobby Fischer beats Russian Boris Spassky to become the world chess champion.