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The Italian Navy loses a man at sea during a night flight (V2)

(B2) This is a rather rare accident. The SH / AB 212 shipboard helicopter of the high seas patrol vessel Borsini (P-491), which took part in the Italian maritime surveillance operation Safe Sea, crashed at sea on Thursday night (April 5), just before landing on the ship.

A crash in the night

First of all, we had thought that the incident would end without too much damage. The navy had thus announced around midnight that it had " recovered five crew members who were transferred on board, assessments and care “As the navy stated laconically in a tweet published overnight.

In fact one of them was in critical condition. Despite all efforts to resuscitate him, Corporal 1st Class Andrea Fazio, died aboard the ship. He belonged to the 2nd Helicopter Group, stationed in Catania. A " experienced man appreciated by his colleagues in the words of the Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Valter Girardelli.

A night mission crash

« The helicopter hit the sea not far from landing on the ship. He had just completed a night training mission, type "Night Vision Googles" (NVG), for two gunners of the Marine Brigade San Marco says the Italian Navy statement. As soon as it hit the water, the helicopter rolled onto its side. The two pilots and the two operators of the elite unit were able to extract themselves from the helicopter, but Andrea Fazio remained stuck in the cockpit.

An attempt at ultimate recovery

The Borsini divers rushed quickly and were able to recover it. But without much hope. He was brought back to the ship unconscious. And, despite all efforts to resuscitate him, he died on board. The two pilots and the two marines are safe and sound, but " in a state of shock ". Admiral Girardelli wished to salute " the speed of the rescue and the intervention capacity of the crew of the Borsini and of the other units that intervened at the site of the accident ».

The helicopter sinks

At the first light of dawn, the helicopter sank, visual contact with the floats to which it was attached was lost, the bad weather conditions in the region explaining this epilogue... as perhaps the causes of the accident. An investigation is underway. The military prosecutor in Rome has opened an investigation.

A regular in helicopters and international missions

Born in Augusta the port of Sicily, 40 years old, Andrea Fazio, was not married and had no children. His passion was helicopters. He had been in service for twelve years at the Maristaeli base of the 2nd Helicopter Group. He had participated in several international operations and in particular the EU anti-piracy operation, EUNAVFOR Atalanta in 2012.

A delicate but routine maneuver

The landing maneuver is difficult in itself, but routine for the Italian crews. I was able to witness this on several occasions, in particular by flying aboard these aircraft to join the Cavour which was then the flagship of Operation Sophia (read: On board the Cavour (Operation Sophia)).

The pilots of the 2nd helicopter group regularly intervene at sea, in support of the many Italian ships which patrol the area, whether for national maritime surveillance and sea rescue operations (type Safe Sea) or for European operations (Sophia operation type). They are then regularly struggling with weather conditions that are not always favorable, with crosswinds.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Updated Sat. April 7 (biographical notions)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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