A tram from the Thurgau company Stadler derailed in Milan. image: screenshot, youtube.com/@LocalTeam
A tram derailed and crashed into a building in Milan on Friday afternoon. Two people were killed and around 40 others were injured, several of them seriously. The cause of the accident is still unclear.
February 27, 2026, 7:02 p.mFebruary 27, 2026, 7:09 p.m
The accident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday in the center of Milan. A tram on line 9 was traveling on a wide avenue when it suddenly deviated from the intended route at a switch. The vehicle derailed and crashed into the corner of a building at high speed. A traffic light was knocked down and the window front of a restaurant was destroyed.
Eyewitnesses report that the tram was traveling “very quickly”. “At first I thought it was an earthquake,” said one passenger. “I was sitting in my seat and suddenly landed on the floor.” Next to him, a man was bleeding profusely from a head wound. Another passenger said that the tram unexpectedly turned and accelerated before it drove into the building. “Everyone was thrown around.”
Two fatalities, several seriously injured
Two men were killed in the accident. One was born in 1966, the second, according to the authorities, was homeless and initially not identified. Around 40 people were injured, several of them seriously. They were taken to various hospitals in the city.
Some people were trapped inside the tram and had to be freed by the fire department. It is unclear whether there were people on the road at the time of the accident and whether the driver therefore initiated braking or evasive maneuvers.
Numerous rescue workers were on duty, including ambulances, fire departments and police. The mayor of Milan and representatives of the public prosecutor’s office also appeared at the scene of the accident.
Technical breakdown or health problem?
The vehicle involved in the accident was a new tram model from the Swiss company Stadler, which has only been in use in Milan for a few weeks. It is around 25 meters long, has two driver’s cabs and offers space for 66 seated passengers.
The investigation is currently focusing on two possible causes: either the driver suffered a health problem or there was a technical fault with the switch. After the accident, it was found in a position that allowed for a turn, even though the tram should have continued straight ahead. The switch can usually only be activated by the driver, according to the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” reported.
Condolences and ongoing investigations
The responsible regional emergency organization announced that several emergency vehicles, over a dozen ambulances and special coordination vehicles for major events were in use.
The Milan transport company said it was “deeply shocked” by the serious accident in a statement. We are working closely with the judicial authorities to clarify the exact cause and sequence of events. Our thoughts are with the relatives of the victims and those injured.
How the serious accident could have occurred is the subject of ongoing investigations. (mke)