MANTUA – A helicopter has crashed in an industrial area of Pegognaga killing the pilot, according to initial reports.

 The pilot has been named as 38-year old Alessandro Foglio Bonacina, a financial manager at Cellular Italia who rented the helicopter that morning to complete aerial surveys. He was killed on impact, around 11:30 Friday morning.

 The cause of the accident is not yet established, but there may have been a fault which caused the propeller to be blocked, reported Il Fatto Quotidiano.

The helicopter crashed into the midst of an industrial area, near the junction of the via Guido Rossa. It struck a gas-distribution booth, which was evacuated by emergency services.

 The National Agency for Flight Safety has opened an investigation. Fire-services, ambulances and police are on the scene.

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