ITALY: UNITED STATES MILITARY INVESTIGATES SITE WHERE A HELICOPTER CRASHED KILLING ALL FOUR CREW MEMBERS

Record ID: 338367

  • Title: ITALY: UNITED STATES MILITARY INVESTIGATES SITE WHERE A HELICOPTER CRASHED KILLING ALL FOUR CREW MEMBERS
  • Date: 18th July 2003
  • Summary: (W3) CONTRADA LAMACCA, SICILY (JULY 16, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV NIGHT SHOTS RESCUE TEAMS, AMBULANCES AN POLICE ARRIVING AT SCENE OF CRASH (6 SHOTS) 1.09 (W3) CONTRADA LAMACCA, SICILY (JULY 16, 2003) (REUTERS) 2. LV SITE OF CRASH WITH A DISTANT VIEW OF WRECK; SLV FIRE ENGINE DRIVING TOWARDS SITE; SLV AMBULANCE DRIVING TOWARDS SITE; LV SITE (5 SHOTS) 1.42 3. MV EYE WITNESS IGNAZIO DI PERNA IN THE FIELD NEAR THE SITE OF THE CRASH 1.46 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) EYE WITNESS IGNAZIO DI PERNA SAYING: "I saw the helicopter with smoke coming out of the back of the tail. It was trying to land. I could clearly see in there were flames in the cabin. the helicopter was under control and was trying to land. After about 5-6 minutes I could see a plume of smoke rising from the ground and another helicopter flying above the area." 2.32 5. SLV AMBULANCE 2.36 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAMACCA IN CONTRADA ANDOLINA, SICILY, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA6DONYEF5J5JIW5A331NQWLVT1
  • Story Text: The U.S. military is still investigating the site where
    a helicopter crashed yesterday in Sicily, killing all four
    crew members.

    A U.S. military helicopter crashed and burst into flames
    on Wednesday (July 16, 2003) on the Mediterranean island of
    Sicily, killing all four crew.

    A spokesman for the U.S. Navy base at Sigonella, Sicily,
    confirmed that an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter with four crew
    on board had gone down about 10 miles southwest of the base,
    but could not confirm the status of the crew.

    The reasons for the crash were not immediately clear.

    The helicopter, part of a combat support squadron, took
    off from Sigonella, near the city of Catania, just before 1700
    local (1500 GMT) and crashed shortly afterwards, bursting into
    flames by a roadside in the village of Ramacca in Contrada Andolina.

    No one on the ground was hurt in the crash.

    Fire-fighting crews and security teams from Sigonella were
    still investigating the scene of the crash early on Thursday
    morning.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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