An Italian firefighting helicopter crashed on Sunday near the city of Rieti in central Italy killing the pilot and a technician who was also traveling in the aircraft, local reports said.

The co-pilot was wounded and rushed to a hospital in nearby Rome in serious condition, according to Rome-based Il Messaggero newspaper.

The victims, aged 60 and 67, were confirmed dead soon after the crash, which occurred near a lake in the area while the firefighter helicopter was carrying out a flight training, according to a statement from the local government.

Local authorities said the accident could have been caused by a sudden damage of the aircraft's transmission system. The pilot was thought to have attempted an emergency landing before the engine collapsed definitely.

No further casualties were reported, but eyewitnesses said the crash could have caused a bigger tragedy.

"Fortunately nobody was in the water and there were only a few people on the jetty," an entrepreneur who was near the lake when the helicopter fell down was quoted as saying by Il Messaggero.

"The helicopter was flying just an inch from the water and passed 30 distance meters from us, brushing against the jetty," he said. 

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)