ROME – An Italian Navy helicopter has crashed into the Mediterranean during an overnight “Mare Sicuro” (Safe Sea) training drill, carried out with five crew members. One of the team aboard the SH 212 helicopter died in the tragic operation, whilst the other four were successfully rescued.

 The helicopter had been stationed aboard the Nave Borsini, a ship deployed under the same rescue operation, not far from where the incident took place. Investigations have been launched in order to decipher the reasons behind the helicopter’s unexpected fall, which still remain unknown.

 A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence stressed that the necessary measures in response to the crash “were taken immediately, and the men on board were promptly recovered.” Several other Navy units arrived at the scene to support the rescue mission.

 However, one crew member, the flight specialist Andrea Fazio, who had been recovered unconscious, passed away aboard the Nave Borsini as the team carried out resuscitation attempts. The other four remain in good condition.

 Mr Fazio’s family have been informed and will receive all psychological and spiritual support needed for their loss, the Italian Navy has announced.

 The “Mare Sicuro” operation has been in place since March 2015 in order to control migration across the Mediterranean into Italy. Since the turn of the year, Italian authorities have expanded the scope of the mission, tightening control to combat rising numbers of illegal immigrants entering the country. The Italian Navy currently has six ships deployed in the operation.

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