THEY COME LOWER – “I’m very excited: my heart almost leaps out of my chest». These are the words spoken by Nicolò Maja before flying again (the interview in the video below). His dream was fulfilled this afternoon, Thursday 9 May, at Venegono Inferiore airport, where around 4.30 pm he took off aboard a 4-seater single-engine Cessna for a reconnaissance flight over the province of Varesein particular on Lake Varese and Lake Maggiore.
The patent before the massacre
His passion for flying it is longstanding: as a child he was fascinated by it after watching the film “Pearl Harbour” and in December 2021 he had managed to obtain the patent, after 45 hours of flight, right at the Aero Club Varese. The tragedy that struck his family in May 2022 changed everything. But Nicolò, the only survivor of the massacre carried out by his father Alessandro Maja in the family home in Samarate, in which his mother and sister lost their lives, is trying with all his strength to rebuild his life step by step.
Return in flight
To the initiative, made possible by the commitment of many people including Mariella Meucci, Marco Limbiati and the Aero Club Varese, led by president Pietro Zanzi, were also present grandparents Ines and Giulio as well as friends and acquaintances who attended to support Maja, who had expressed her desire to return to flying in the Rai program “La vita in diretta”, where a report dedicated to today’s event will be broadcast in the next few days. Among them too Pietro Ottaviani, mayor of Cassano Magnago where Nicolò lives with his grandparents. Maja arrived around 3pm: in her eyes so much emotion and joy at flying on a plane again. «Today is the first time I’ve returned to fly here in Venegono. I hope to experience old sensations again that I felt when I was flying.” Then he went down to the runway to board the aircraft (in the video below the departure).
“It’s going fine”
Today represents a further important milestone for Maja in a process of rebirth. «Yes absolutely, that is a nice piece together with others to slowly resume normal life – he commented – it’s going well.” Nicolò Maja was the pilot of the plane that brought him back into flight Cristian Lamera. On the slope Nicolò met Antonio Riario Sforza, the instructor with whom he had obtained his certification, with whom he exchanged an affectionate hug. «It’s an emotion for us too, it’s a beautiful day – said grandmother Ines – Nicolò has his mother and sister on his shirt because she wants to take them on a flight with him. It’s been a difficult two years but we found many new friends».
Nicolò Maja returns to fly – MALPENSA24
