The bodies of the four soldiers killed in Bosnia return to Ciampino

The bodies of the four Italian soldiers who died in a helicopter accident in Bosnia on October 29 landed today, November 2, at Ciampino military airport. Compared to what was anticipated this morning in this newspaper’s Briefs — which indicated the return was expected during the day — the new development is the actual arrival and the institutional ceremony that accompanied it.

According to a statement from the Presidency of the Republic, President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani were present to receive the aircraft carrying the bodies. The news of the arrival is confirmed independently by three sources: the Presidency of the Republic, ANSA, and RaiNews.

Among the victims are Sergeants Simone Ruggia and Claudio Marchesi, Sergeant Laura Procacci, and Franco Adriano Zecchillo, a lieutenant with the Military Corps of the Red Cross. According to ANSA, the helicopter was engaged in a training flight at the time of the accident.

The arrival of the bodies in Ciampino, with the simultaneous presence of the highest officials of the State, marks the close of a public phase linked to the repatriation of the four fallen soldiers. What remains to be followed in the coming days is the organization of the funeral ceremonies and any technical investigations into the causes of the accident, aspects on which no further details have currently been released by the official sources consulted.