Fourth body found after Sicily crash

A US search team has found the body of a fourth US airman killed when a military helicopter crashed on the Mediterranean island of Sicily.

The Sea Dragon helicopter went down in flames shortly after taking off from the US Navy base at Sigonella near the city of Catania on Wednesday afternoon.

The bodies of three of the crew were found later that day, but US rescuers did not find the fourth body until Thursday afternoon.

An inquiry has been opened into the cause of the crash.

The dead crew members were: Commander Kevin A Bianchi, 40, from Maplewood, New Jersey, Lieutenant Peter Ober, 27 from Jacksonville, Florida, aviation mechanic Brian P Gibson, 33, from Richmond, Virginia, and aviation electrician Samuel Cox, 21, from Duluth, Minnesota.

The helicopter crashed in a largely agricultural area in the east of the island.

Lieutenant Steve Curry, from the Sigonella air base, said he had heard the helicopter was on fire before it crashed.

"I heard reports that they did make a distress call," he said.

The Sea Dragon helicopter can carry up to 55 troops, and its missions include sweeping for sea mines.