ROME — Germans, Austrians and other foreigners stormed Italy to play the lottery ahead of Thursday night’s record jackpot of 131.5 million euros, or $186 million, including some who flew into Milan for a few hours just for a chance to win.
Germany’s Bild newspaper said 140 passengers on a chartered Air Berlin jet had won a phone-in contest for free tickets for an early-afternoon flight from Berlin to Milan’s Malpensa airport.
Besides the free seats, the winners were treated to a heaping plateful of pasta, a cup of espresso and the opportunity to buy Superenalotto tickets at a smoke shop at the Milan airport.
Later in the afternoon, without ever leaving the airport, the passengers were flying back to Berlin, “just in time for dinner and to find out if they’ve won,” said Italy private Canale 5 TV.
But no one had guessed the winning six-number combination, so the prize grew to 135.9 million euros, or $194 million.
