Ultralight with two people on board missing in Cosentino, search in progress

An ultralight aircraft carrying two individuals has been missing since Sunday evening in the Cosentine region of southern Italy, prompting ongoing search efforts. The aircraft departed from Capo d'Orlando in Messina heading toward Sibari in Cosenza. The passengers were identified as Carlo Arnulfo, a 64-year-old resident of Rome, and Angela Buccico, a 55-year-old from Matera. Their disappearance was reported by family members, leading authorities to initiate a search operation. The Prefect's office activated the protocol for searching for missing persons, and firefighters have begun their search efforts starting at 9:05 p.m. on August 16, focusing on areas around Fuscaldo and Falconara Albanese. To assist ground teams, remote-controlled drones operated by specialized personnel, a SAR helicopter from the Italian Air Force, and the firefighting helicopter Drago VF165 from the Salerno Flight Unit have been deployed. Firefighters have conducted checks to determine a search area based on cell phone triangulation data. Initial information suggests the last contact was made near Sannati, located between Fuscaldo and Fiumefreddo. Search operations so far have not yielded results and are currently concentrated in the inland high Tyrrhenian area of northern Cosenza. These searches are being carried out both on land and at sea, despite rescuers considering it unlikely that the aircraft crashed into water, as such vehicles typically fly close to the coast and would likely have been noticed by beachgoers. A resident of Contrada Tavola Grande in Capo d'Orlando, from which the ultralight took off, explained that the small field used for takeoff is partially fenced and semi-abandoned. He described the airstrip as belonging to a private club managed by individuals but rarely used these days, with only four or five regular members. Occasionally, someone comes to mow the grass, but the facility is no longer maintained as it once was. Currently, two ultralights are parked in the area. The incident has drawn attention to the condition of the airstrip and the frequency of its usage. While the exact circumstances surrounding the disappearance remain unclear, the search continues with multiple resources engaged in the effort. Authorities are using all available means to locate the missing individuals, including aerial surveillance and ground teams working in coordination. Local residents have expressed concern over the safety of flying from such a location, given its semi-abandoned state. However, the lack of recent activity does not necessarily indicate a risk factor in this particular case. The focus remains on locating the aircraft and the individuals aboard, with no indication yet of their whereabouts. Efforts continue into the following day, with no immediate signs of success. The involvement of multiple agencies highlights the seriousness of the situation and the complexity of conducting a search in such terrain. As the investigation progresses, more details about the flight path and potential factors contributing to the disappearance may emerge. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the aircraft landing elsewhere or encountering mechanical failure during flight. The ongoing search reflects the determination of emergency services to find the missing individuals, even as challenges related to the geography and conditions of the search area persist.