The Chief of Staff of the Navy, squad admiral Valter Girardelli, expressed closeness to the family of the non-commissioned officer who lost his life in the flight indicator that took place on the SH 212 helicopter of Nave Borsini engaged in the operation Safe Sea.
"In my personal capacity and in the name of the entire Navy, I express my deep condolences to the family for the loss of the head of 1st class Andrea Fazio, to which I join the solidarity of the entire Armed Force to the colleagues of the flight components for the disappearance of the professional and of the 'friend". “I also express great appreciation"Added the admiral of team Girardelli"for the promptness of rescue and the ability to intervene of the crew of Nave Borsini and of the other units intervened at the scene of the accident".
The head of 1 ° class Andrea Fazio was an experienced and appreciated flight operator of the 2 ° Group helicopters stationed in Catania with a solid professional background and extensive experience on Navy helicopters.
The helicopter fell into the sea a short distance from Nave Borsini during the night-time fitting phase of a planned training mission, in the "Night Vision Googles" (NVG) set-up, also in favor of two selected shooters of the Marina San Marco Brigade.
As soon as the helicopter was overturned, it flopped on its side; the two pilots and two operators of the BMSM managed to get out of the helicopter while the head of 1 ° class Andrea Fazio was still recovered inside the cockpit by the divers of Nave Borsini promptly rushed.
The two pilots and the two riflemen of Marina are in good condition but in shock and are followed by the sanitary of the unit.
At the first light of dawn, eye contact with the helicopter and the floats to which it was secured was lost. The same may have sunk and also due to bad weather conditions that insist on the area. On the accident site, other units of the Navy and Nave are convened Borsini heads for the port of Augusta.
Investigations are under way to determine the causes of the accident.
