Four Italian service members were killed and 11 others injured after an Italian CH-47 Chinook helicopter operating under the European Union Force (EUFOR) peacekeeping mission crashed during a routine training activity in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday evening.

The accident occurred on 29 October 2026 in the Gorice area near Brčko, a region in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina where EUFOR personnel are deployed as part of the long-running Operation Althea peacekeeping mission.

In an official statement, the EUFOR Public Affairs Office confirmed that four personnel lost their lives in the crash. The organisation added that the 11 injured service members remain in a stable condition and are receiving medical treatment.

Emergency responders from Bosnia and Herzegovina, together with EUFOR Liaison and Observation Team personnel, quickly reached the crash site. Rescue teams recovered the victims and transported the wounded to medical facilities in Brčko for treatment.

EUFOR stressed that no civilians were harmed in the incident. The force also confirmed that there was no reported damage to civilian infrastructure, private property or vehicles.

Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash. EUFOR stated that further information will be released only after the facts have been verified.

The mission also urged the public to avoid spreading unverified rumours or speculating about the identities and nationalities of those involved, encouraging people to rely exclusively on official channels for accurate information.

Expressing its grief, EUFOR said it was profoundly shaken by the tragedy and extended its deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of those who lost their lives.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also reacted to the disaster, expressing sorrow over the loss of Italian personnel serving with EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In a message posted on X, she offered condolences to the victims and their families while expressing solidarity with all personnel engaged in maintaining peace and stability across the region.

The helicopter was serving with EUFOR, the European Union's military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The operation, known as Operation Althea, has been responsible for supporting stability and security in the country since 2004 and has been under Italian command since January 2026, when Major General Maurizio Fronda assumed leadership of the multinational force.

The mission currently comprises personnel from numerous European nations and remains a key element of the international community's efforts to preserve peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to EUFOR, additional updates on the tragedy will be provided as the investigation progresses and once the circumstances surrounding the crash have been fully established.

ANI