Five bodies were initially found, according to the National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps (CNSAS), but the bodies of two more on board were found later Saturday.
“The helicopter, which had been missing since Thursday, June 9, had taken off from Lucca airport with seven occupants and was found today, on Mount Cusna, completely destroyed,” the National Security Agency reported in Flight from Italy in a statement.
The remains were found on Mount Cusna, in the Apennines, in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna, a few kilometers from Tuscany.
After 3 pm local time (9 am ET), the CNSAS tweeted that, unfortunately, no survivors were found.
The victims are the pilot of the Veneto region and six passengers, four of Turkish nationality and two of Lebanese nationality, who were on a business trip to Italy. The official confirmation was given by the Modena prefecture, CNN affiliate SkyTg24 reported on Saturday.
The helicopter appears to have crashed into the bed of a stream, the Lama, at Passo degli Scaloni, 1,922 meters above sea level, SkyTg24 reported.
Italy’s National Flight Safety Agency said on Saturday it had opened an investigation and sent an investigator to the scene of the crash involving the A119 Koala helicopter, the agency said.
Rescue operations were carried out by the CNSAS, the Italian fire brigade and the Italian police and Air Force personnel.
“We took some coordinates, went to the place and found everything burned. The helicopter is inside a valley, near a stream, we are trying to bring all the rescue teams and then reach the area on foot, because it’s hard to get there. there with the winch, “a soldier said Saturday in a video posted on the Italian Air Force’s verified Twitter profile.