Brit couple killed in Naples cable car disaster ‘were seconds from safety’ when cab plunged as tragic operator pictured
FOUR people killed in a horror cable car crash were just seconds from safety when a wire snapped and the cab plunged 100ft into a forest.
The tragedy struck near the summit of Mount Faito, near Naples, just days after the line reopened for the summer season – killing two Brits, an Israeli woman and a cable car operator.
A second Israeli tourist was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, according to La Repubblica.
Italian authorities have identified one of the Brits as Margaret Elaine Winn, 58, but have not named the second – a man who is believed to be her husband.
And the Israeli woman was identified as 25-year-old Janan Suliman.
Italian cable car operator Carmine Parlato, 59, was also among those killed.
Carmine was understood to be on his daily run up Monte Faito — a 1.8 mile journey from the town of Castellammare di Stabia to the top of the mountain.
Umberto De Gregorio, chairman of the cable car company Ente Autonomy Volturno, said he was “devoted to the cable car as though it was his own home”.
Pal Domenico Monoco described Carmine as a “decent and hard working guy” in a touching tribute.
He wrote: “I’m really struggling to accept that you’re no longer with us.
“I want to remember you for how you’ve always been, a golden boy.”
Another friend, Del Santo Giuseppe, said he was a “kind, helpful professional who put a lot of enthusiasm and passion into his work”.
The group had left the Castellammare di Stabia station at 2:40pm on Thursday, heading for the top of the 3,700ft peak.
But six minutes later – and less than half a minute from the terminal – the cabin jolted to a stop.
Authorities believe the emergency brake system failed – causing the cabin to slip backwards before a traction cable snapped.
Hanging over a steep drop, the cable car hurtled “at full speed” into a pylon and plummeted nearly 100ft into thick woodland.
The carriage then tumbled down the mountainside, rescuers said.
Rescuers only reached the mangled wreckage two hours later due to treacherous terrain, thick fog and high winds.
Miraculously, one Israeli tourist was found alive among the twisted metal and shattered trees.
He was airlifted to hospital in critical condition – suffering multiple fractures, and remains on a ventilator under deep sedation.
The bodies of the other four were recovered nearby.
Meanwhile, nine passengers and a cabin operator were rescued from a second stranded cable car – with footage showing how each person had to be evacuated one-by-one via harnesses.
Italy‘s alpine rescue, along with over 50 firefighters, police and civil protection services worked at the crash site overnight on Thursday.
‘Unimaginable tragedy’
De Gregorio described the disaster as “an unimaginable, unforeseeable tragedy”.
He said the line had completed “three months of tests every day, day and night” – and promised “maximum collaboration with the authorities”.
Italy‘s national rail and transport agency, Ansfisa, also confirmed the line was inspected in March 2024 and deemed safe to operate – with official reports signed off by the operations director.
An investigation into multiple manslaughter and culpable disaster has been opened by Italian prosecutors, according to reports.
In a post on social media, Vincenzo De Luca, president of Campania, called the day “truly tragic and painful” and said his thoughts go to those who died, were injured and their families.
He said he was grateful for the rescuers and said an investigation into what happened will be carried out.
Luigi Vicinanza Sindaco, the mayor of Castellammare, said there will be a day of mourning – and decided to cancel all events for the Easter holidays.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences from Washington DC, where she met with US President Donald Trump.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “We are dealing with an incident in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities. Our thoughts are with those affected.”
“Our staff are available 24/7 to support British nationals abroad.”
The cable car has been operating since 1952 and a similar accident in 1960 also left four dead.
In May 2021, a cable car crashed in the Alps near Lake Maggiore, killing 14 people.
In 1998, a US fighter jet flying a low level on a training flight cut a steel cable and 20 people in a cable car in the Dolomites were killed.