Five bodies were initially found, according to the Alpine Cliffs and Caves Rescue Corps (CNSAS), but the bodies of two others on board were found later on Saturday.
The Italian National Flight Safety Authority said in a press release: “The helicopter, missing since Thursday 9 June, took off from Lucca airport with seven people on board and was found. today, on Mount Cusna, has been completely destroyed.”
The remains were found on Monte Cusna, in the Apennines in the northern Emilia-Romagna region, a few kilometers from Tuscany.
After 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET), CNSAS tweeted that unfortunately no survivors had been found.
The victims were pilots from the Veneto region and six passengers, four Turkish nationals and two Lebanese, on a business trip to Italy. Official confirmation was given by the Modena district, CNN affiliate SkyTg24 reported on Saturday.
SkyTg24 reported, the helicopter appeared to have crashed on the bed of Lama stream at Passo degli Scaloni, an altitude of 1,922 m above sea level.
Italy’s National Flight Safety Authority on Saturday said it had opened an investigation and sent an investigator to the scene of the crash involving the A119 Koala helicopter, the agency said.
Rescue operations were carried out by CNSAS, Italian fire brigade and Italian police, and personnel of the Air Force.
“We got some coordinates, when we got there, everything was burned. The helicopter was inside a valley, near a stream, we were trying to get all the rescue crews to get there. then walk to the area, because it is difficult to get. stay there with the winch,” a soldier said earlier on Saturday, in a video posted on the verified Twitter profile of the Italian Air Force.
