BBC News Online: World: Europe

Milan plane crash: What happened

• Why was the plane unable to make an emergency landing at the city's Linate airport?

• Did the pilot, Luigi Fasulo, intend to commit suicide?

• Was the plane suffering from some sort of mechanical failure?

A transcript of the final conversation between Fasulo and Air Traffic control at Linate airport obtained by an Italian newspaper has provided the most revealing clues so far.

However, it then suggests that Fasulo misheard an message to circle the airport, and instead followed an instruction to stay clear of the runway intended for a helicopter which was also attempting to land.

Despite attempts by air traffic controllers and the helicopter to contact Fasulo to point out the mistake, his aircraft flew away from the airport.

Apparently Air Traffic control did not question his actions, assuming he was unable to land.

No distress signal was received from the aircraft, but a few minutes later witnesses reported smoke coming from the vicinity of the Pirelli tower.

The chairman of Italy's civil aviation authority Alfredo Roma, said his theory was that Fasulo became unwell or there was a small fire or smoke on board, causing him to lose control of the plane.

One of Fasulo's sons told La Repubblica newspaper he believed his father - beset by heavy debts - had committed suicide.

However this theory has been rejected by other family members, who decribed Luigi Fasulo as "a person who loved life."