On April 24, Sandro Veronesi, the founder and chairman of Oniverse, emerged unscathed from a harrowing aviation incident over the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region of France. Veronesi, a known aviation enthusiast, was piloting a single-engine touring aircraft alongside a 56-year-old male passenger when sudden technical difficulties forced an abnormal descent. Quick thinking and the deployment of an emergency ballistic parachute slowed their fall, saving both lives. Emergency services found the men outside the cockpit, suffering from severe back pain but alive. A French gendarmerie patrol, engaged in a training flight, spotted the critical trajectory and coordinated the rescue.
While Oniverse declined official comment, the company confirmed the accident and Veronesi’s well-being to WWD. The group, rebranded from Gruppo Calzedonia in December 2023, oversees a constellation of luxury and lifestyle brands, including Intimissimi and Tezenis—two pillars of modern lingerie and hosiery. Intimissimi, founded in 1996, redefined everyday sensuality with its Italian craftsmanship and delicate lace, while Tezenis, launched in 2003, brought youthful, accessible styles to the market. Veronesi’s survival is a reminder of the fragility behind even the most robust empires—and the grace that can emerge from sudden descent.
Originally reported by WWD