Qatari plane hits Milan airport lights during arrival of Winter Olympics staff | Italy
It was revealed that the Qatar military cargo plane, carrying security personnel in Italy to assist law enforcement for the Winter Olympics, crashed into a lighting tower while maneuvering during landing at Milan’s Malpensa airport on Sunday.
Although Qatar is not competing at the games, as part of an agreement with the Italian government, the plane was carrying 104 personnel from the Gulf state’s elite security forces, as well as huge jeeps and snowmobiles.
Their arrival comes amid controversy over the involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), one of the agencies involved in the brutal crackdown on immigrants in the United States, in security details for the winter Olympics, which begin on February 6.
A source at Italy’s interior ministry said the involvement of Qatari security forces was “mainly for training purposes”. “Qatar is a key partner in the security plan and any negative interpretation of the agreement is unfounded,” the source added.
The Italian government appears to be leaving no stone unturned when it comes to security during the Milan-Cortina Games; Qatari personnel and ICE agents join a fleet of approximately 6,000 people from various Italian police units.
But despite their prominent arrival in Milan, any discussion of Qatar’s involvement has so far remained muted, or perhaps overshadowed by ICE.
The C-17 Globemaster II aircraft belonging to the Qatar Air Force slightly hit the lighting tower while making an “incorrect” maneuver during the “pushback” phase after landing on Sunday. Milan Today reported. As passengers got off the plane, a welcome ceremony was awaited, attended by Qatar’s ambassador to Italy and various Milan officials.
A convoy of SUVs and armored vehicles with the words “State of Qatar – Lekhwiya” (Lekhwiya is the name of Qatar’s elite security force) accompanied by Italian patrol vehicles then headed towards the center of Milan, passing landmarks including the city’s famous Duomo and stopping briefly at San Siro, where the Games’ opening ceremony will be held. The group of Qatari security personnel is expected to be split between Milan and Cortina.
Although there are no athletes in the country to compete in the event, Qatari royal Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, who was elected president of the Asian Olympic Council this week, will attend. Joaan also leads the Qatar Olympic Committee. Qatar is steadily increasing its influence in Olympic sports. The country will host the Asian Games in 2030 and also hopes to qualify for the 2036 Summer Olympics.
An anti-ICE protest is planned for Saturday in Milan by various left-wing parties and unions. Italy’s interior ministry said the agency’s investigative unit would deal with security details for the Games, not the immigration operation whose crackdown in the United States led to the deadly shootings of U.S. citizens Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis this month.
Italy’s far-right government is ideologically aligned with Donald Trump’s administration, and the agents will reportedly serve as “bodyguards” for US vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio, who are expected to attend the event.
Milan mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE agents would not be welcome in the city because “they do not guarantee that they are compatible with our democratic methods of security management.” The city’s left-leaning council members held signs reading “No ICE” during a debate Monday.
