The helicopter disappeared from radar in Castelpagano di Apricena, a rural area in the Puglia region, prompting search efforts by both the air force and the fire brigade.
The deputy rescue chief in Puglia, Raffaele Piemontese, later confirmed to Italian media that the helicopter had been found and that all seven on board were dead. Among the dead was a family of four from Slovenia who were on vacation in the region.
The helicopter was flying as part of a daily service between Foggia in Puglia and the Tremiti Islands off the Italian coast when it encountered bad weather.