A helicopter crashed in the province of Parma, Italy, this evening. The air accident occurred over the village of Castel Guelfo and Italian media report that three people on board the helicopter have died.
Among the victims is Lorenzo Rovagnati, heir to the historic meat company. The helicopter crashed inside the Castelguelfo castle estate, a medieval villa along the Via Emilia, in the municipality of Noceto.
The castle belongs to the Rovagnati family.
On board the plane, in addition to the passenger from the Rovagnati family, were the two pilots.
Lorenzo went to his parents' castle in Parma almost every Wednesday, leaving by helicopter from his residence in the Milan area.
Lorenzo Rovagnati held the position of CEO in the family business, founded in the post-war period by Angelo Ferruccio Rovagnati and his son Paolo.
The company became famous for producing the cooked ham "Gran Biscotto", promoted in the 1990s through television commercials with Mike Bongiorno.
Regarding the tragedy, it appears that the helicopter was taking off and perhaps after a failed attempt to fly, was trying to return to the ground.
Among the causes of the accident being examined by investigators is pilot error caused by poor visibility due to a thick fog blanketing the area, but a mechanical failure of the tail propeller has not been ruled out, among others.
The speed at which the helicopter crashed to the ground left no chance for the three people on board who died instantly.