The executive helicopter of the Alidaunia disappeared with 7 people on board was found between San Severo and Apricena: 4 Slovenian tourists, two pilots and a 118 doctor. This was announced by the vice president of the Puglia Region Raffaele Piemontese. The seven people on board would all have died. The area where the Agusta A 109 I-PIKI was found is Castelpagano di Apricena, in the countryside. The aircraft, which took off at 9.20 from San Nicola di Tremiti, lost radio contact shortly afterwards and disappeared from the radar in the Apricena area, in the province of Foggia. The helicopter was identified at around 1.30 pm in Castelpagano, a hamlet of Apricena.
Kitesurfer sucked by military helicopter in Ladispoli
Seven people on board, who were the passengers
These are the names of the people who were on board: the four Slovenian tourists are all members of the same family: Bostjan Rigler, 54; Jon Rigler of 44; MatejaCurk Rigler, of 44; Liza Rigler Liza aged 13. On board was also Maurizio De Girolamo, 64, a 118-year-old doctor who was returning home after his shift at Tremiti, and the pilots Luigi Ippolito and Andrea Nardelli. Rescue teams are arriving at the spot where the helicopter was spotted.
Boštjan Rigler 54 years old, technical director of the main Slovenian commercial TV, Pro Plus srl, which has two channels Pop TV and Kanal A. The Rigler family was spending their holidays in Puglia.
The flight lasted just over 20 minutes to cover the 70 kilometers of distance between the archipelago and the “Gino Lisa” airport of Foggia: a very short journey and the total lack of communication between the pilots and the control tower immediately made you think the worst.
Helicopter disappeared after take off from Foggia
The rural area of the West Gargano where the wreck of the helicopter crashed this morning is particularly inaccessible and is now also shrouded in fog. The first 118 units from Lesina (Foggia) and three civil protection teams from Apricena as well as the carabinieri are arriving on site, in Castel Pagano in the countryside of Apricena (Foggia).
The weather conditions this morning were not optimal, rain and clear with moderate winds from the north west, but the visibility was good: nothing that could worry the pilots of the helicopter. The weather then got worse just as the searches began.
The company
The Alidaunia offers multiple connections between Foggia and the Tremiti islands, sometimes with a stopover in Vieste, especially in the summer season. For residents, prices are reduced thanks to regional contributions: the cost for an adult each way is just over 30 euros.
The company, which has a fleet of ten aircraft, some in executive version, also ensures the ambulance service for the 118 of some Regions and support for Civil Protection.
Emiliano returns to Puglia
The President of the Region, Michele Emiliano, is returning to Puglia from Rome, where he was participating in the procession for peace. «From the moment of the helicopter’s disappearance – reads a note from the Region – Emiliano has remained in constant contact with the Prefect of Foggia, Maurizio Valiante, and with the Vice President of the Region, Raffaele Piemontese, to follow the search operations. As soon as he heard the news of Emiliano’s discovery, he left the procession to return to Puglia, in Foggia ».
