Rome prosecutors reopen Ustica massacre investigation

The Rome Prosecutor's Office has withdrawn its request to archive the investigation into the 1980 Ustica massacre, which resulted in the deaths of all 81 people aboard an Itavia DC-9. The decision follows a commitment from France to provide documents that may clarify the events, opening “new perspectives of investigation.”

Decades of reconstructions suggest the aircraft was shot down as collateral damage during an aerial engagement between Libyan and NATO military aircraft. One prominent hypothesis involves a missile fired from a French aircraft operating from the aircraft carrier Clemenceau.

New investigative leads include testimony regarding orders given at the Grazzanise military base. An ex-official reported claims that a fighter jet was ordered to intercept Libyan Mig aircraft, potentially striking the DC-9 by mistake. While the prosecution has not yet found definitive proof to identify specific suspects, the renewed cooperation from international allies marks a significant shift in the long-standing case.