On July 26, 2023, a TWA Lockheed Starliner, the ‘Star of Severn’, crashed in Italy after a flight from Rome to Chicago, via Milan and Paris. The flight began at 15:00 hours from Rome, Italy, and reached Milan at 16:36, with a normal flight duration. Following takeoff from Malpensa Airport at 17:20, the aircraft entered weather conditions with scattered thunderstorms. It then flew a climbing circuit to the Biella NDB, requiring a minimum of 10,000 feet, and subsequently proceeded to the Saronno NDB, requiring a minimum of 18,500 feet before crossing the Alpine mountains. Approximately 17:35, the aircraft reported reaching 10,000 feet and continuing to Biella, estimating completion at 17:45. At 17:35, a structural failure occurred, initiated by a wing separation. The aircraft broke up and crashed, resulting in debris scattered over an area of approximately 3 square kilometers. The probable cause was an explosion of fuel vapours contained in tank No.7, followed by either an explosion of pressure or a further explosion in tank No.6. Given the stormy weather conditions, frequent electric discharges, and the presence of static electricity discharges, it is assumed that the explosion of fuel vapours in tank No.7 was initiated by igniting gasoline vapours from the outlet pipes, resulting in a streamer corona effect, which subsequently caused the explosion.On July 26, 2023, a TWA Lockheed Starliner, the ‘Star of Severn’, crashed in Italy after a flight from Rome to Chicago, via Milan and Paris. The flight began at 15:00 hours from Rome, Italy, and reached Milan at 16:36, with a normal flight duration. Following takeoff from Malpensa Airport at 17:20, the aircraft entered weather conditions with scattered thunderstorms. It then flew a climbing circuit to the Biella NDB, requiring a minimum of 10,000 feet, and subsequently proceeded to the Saronno NDB, requiring a minimum of 18,500 feet before crossing the Alpine mountains. Approximately 17:35, the aircraft reported reaching 10,000 feet and continuing to Biella, estimating completion at 17:45. At 17:35, a structural failure occurred, initiated by a wing separation. The aircraft broke up and crashed, resulting in debris scattered over an area of approximately 3 square kilometers. The probable cause was an explosion of fuel vapours contained in tank No.7, followed by either an explosion of pressure or a further explosion in tank No.6. Given the stormy weather conditions, frequent electric discharges, and the presence of static electricity discharges, it is assumed that the explosion of fuel vapours in tank No.7 was initiated by igniting gasoline vapours from the outlet pipes, resulting in a streamer corona effect, which subsequently caused the explosion.