An Italian Navy Agusta-Bell AB 212ASW helicopter with five on board crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on April 5, the Italian Navy has informed.
All five Italian Navy personnel from the helicopter were recovered immediately recovered but one crew member died during resuscitation attempts, the navy said.
The helicopter, embarked aboard patrol vessel Comandante Borsini, was on a training mission as part of Italian Navy’s Mediterranean Sea operation Mare Sicuro when the incident took place in bad weather conditions late Thursday.
According to the Italian Navy, the helicopter fell into the sea in close proximity of the patrol vessel. Two pilots and two marines managed to escape the overturned helicopter on their own while the fifth man onboard, identified as Chief 1st Class (Capo di 1° Classe) Andrea Fazio, had to be recovered by divers from ITS Comandante Borsini.
The Italian Navy said an investigation into the incident was underway.