Four members of the European Union’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina died when an Italian CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed during routine training on Thursday. Eleven other people were injured in the accident near Brcko, EU officials confirmed Friday, as an investigation began into the cause.
Crash during a training mission
The aircraft was operating as part of EUFOR Althea, the EU-led mission supporting security and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Officials said the helicopter went down in the Gorica area near Brcko on October 29. All injured personnel were receiving medical care and were reported to be in stable condition.
The victims included members of the Italian armed forces and the Italian Red Cross military corps. The European Commission confirmed the casualties during its October 30 midday briefing, expressing condolences to the families and colleagues of those killed.
EUFOR promises an investigation
The mission has said it is conducting a thorough investigation and will release verified findings as information becomes available. Authorities have not established the cause of the crash, and early speculation about equipment failure or weather would be premature.
EUFOR urged the public to rely on official updates rather than share unverified claims. First responders and mission personnel worked to recover the people involved and transfer the injured to medical facilities.
No civilians reported injured
According to EUFOR, the accident did not injure civilians and did not damage civilian property or infrastructure. That assessment limits the known immediate impact to personnel aboard the military aircraft, although investigators will need to examine the full circumstances.
Role of the Althea mission
The EUFOR Althea operation was established in 2004, replacing NATO’s earlier stabilization mission in Bosnia. It operates in support of the security arrangements created after the 1992–1995 Bosnian war and maintains a military presence aimed at helping preserve a safe and secure environment.
The training crash is a serious loss for a multinational operation whose personnel carry out routine patrols, exercises and cooperation activities with local institutions. It also highlights the risks associated with military aviation even outside combat operations.
Officials have not announced a timetable for the accident report. The most reliable updates on the technical cause, flight procedures and any resulting safety changes will come from the formal inquiry.
Sources: European Commission official briefing, October 30; Associated Press, October 30; N1 Sarajevo, October 29.
