Four Italian personnel serving with the European Union Force (EUFOR) peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina were killed and 11 others injured after a military helicopter crashed during a routine mission on Thursday. The Italian CH-47 Chinook helicopter went down in the Brcko region in the northern part of the country, around 180 kilometres north of Sarajevo. A total of 15 people were aboard the aircraft when the crash occurred. Emergency services and medical teams responded to the incident, transporting injured personnel to hospital in Brcko for treatment. Authorities confirmed the fatalities after one additional victim succumbed to injuries in hospital, taking the death toll to four.

The Italian Defence Ministry said the four people killed included two Italian soldiers and two members of the Italian Red Cross’s Volunteer Military Corps. The 11 injured personnel were receiving medical attention, with reports indicating that none was in a life-threatening condition. Medical staff remained engaged in treating the injured, while some patients were expected to be transferred to a hospital in Tuzla, approximately 50 kilometres from Brcko, for further care. The crash caused extensive damage to the helicopter, with photographs published by local media showing the aircraft overturned and broken apart on a grassy field. Authorities have not established what caused the helicopter to crash, and investigations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The helicopter was operating as part of Operation Althea, the European Union’s military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The operation is tasked with maintaining a safe and secure environment in the country and supporting implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War of 1992–1995. EUFOR confirmed that the aircraft had crashed during what it described as a routine mission. In its statement, the force expressed sorrow over the loss of personnel and said it was conducting a full and thorough investigation. It added that further information would be released once details had been verified and could appropriately be made public. Officials have urged the public to rely on confirmed information rather than speculation about the crash.

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Emergency responders from Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with EUFOR Liaison and Observation Team personnel, took part in the response. The injured were recovered from the crash site and transported to medical facilities in Brcko. EUFOR stated that no civilian infrastructure, property or vehicles had been damaged and that no civilians were injured in the incident. The crash site was examined as authorities began gathering information relevant to the investigation. While local media circulated images of the wreckage, officials cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of the accident before the inquiry was completed. The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the flight and the events leading up to the crash, although no detailed findings have yet been released.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed condolences to the families of those killed, describing the incident as a moment of profound grief for the country’s defence establishment. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also conveyed her sympathy to the victims’ families and those affected by the tragedy. The deaths have brought renewed attention to the risks faced by personnel involved in military and peacekeeping operations, including those conducting routine training and transport missions. The Italian government and EUFOR are expected to provide further updates as the investigation progresses and the condition of the injured personnel becomes clearer.

EUFOR has maintained a military presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2004, when it took over peacekeeping responsibilities from a NATO-led force. Its mission operates under a United Nations Security Council mandate and supports the military provisions of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which brought an end to the conflict that devastated the country in the 1990s. The strength of the mission varies, with personnel drawn from several European countries. The helicopter crash represents a serious loss for the mission and the Italian personnel involved. Authorities have said the investigation will establish the facts surrounding the accident, with additional information to be released once it has been verified.

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