An Italian Chinook military helicopter crashed on Thursday evening during routine training in Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to the deaths of four armed forces members and injuring eleven others.
Incident Details
The fatal crash occurred in the Gorica area near Brčko on October 29, 2026. An official statement from the EUFOR Public Affairs Office confirmed that eleven of the injured are in stable condition and continue to receive treatment.
Local emergency medical services in Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with EUFOR liaison and monitoring personnel, quickly responded to the scene, rescuing victims and transporting them to medical facilities in Brčko.
Investigations and Reactions
EUFOR confirmed that no civilians were harmed in the incident, and no damage to civilian infrastructure, property, or vehicles has been reported. The peacekeeping force stated that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident. Further statements will be released after the facts are confirmed.
Additionally, EUFOR urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified rumors or speculation regarding the identity and nationality of the armed forces members and advised citizens to refer to the official platforms of the force for accurate information.
EUFOR expressed its condolences for the loss of life and extended its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the victims, acknowledging that it is deeply affected by this tragedy.
Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, also expressed her sorrow over the helicopter crash involving Italian EUFOR personnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In a post on social media platform X, she offered condolences to the victims, their relatives, and all personnel deployed to maintain peace and stability in the region, expressing her support and solidarity on behalf of the Italian government.
This aircraft, under Italian command, is part of the EUFOR peace operation, the European Union's peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
