A CH‑47 Chinook helicopter belonging to the European Union Force (EUFOR) crashed during a routine training operation in the Brčko region of Bosnia on Thursday, killing four Italian nationals and injuring eleven others. The accident occurred about 180km north of Sarajevo. EUFOR confirmed that the helicopter was on a training flight and that all injured personnel are receiving treatment in stable condition.
The Italian Defence Ministry identified the victims as two soldiers and two Red Cross volunteers. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen and to the entire defence establishment.
Brčko hospital spokesman reported that 15 people were on board at the time of the crash. Three were killed immediately, and a fourth succumbed to injuries after being transported to the hospital. EUFOR is conducting a full investigation and will release verified information when appropriate.
EUFOR, which has between 1,000 and 1,500 personnel, has been deployed in Bosnia since 2004, overseeing the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the Bosnian War in 1995.
