Italian military helicopter crash during EUFOR training mission in Bosnia kills four

EUFOR confirms Chinook CH-47 helicopter crash in Bosnia, with four Italian nationals confirmed dead.

Published On 30 Oct 202630 Oct 2026

A tragic incident during a routine training mission has claimed the lives of four individuals aboard an Italian military helicopter operating under the European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR).

EUFOR confirmed that a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed during “routine training” in the Brcko region on Thursday, approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of Sarajevo, Bosnia’s capital.

Casualties and Response

The Italian government stated that all personnel on board the military helicopter were Italian nationals. According to the Italian defence ministry, the victims comprised two soldiers and two Red Cross volunteers.

EUFOR reported that eleven individuals sustained injuries in the crash and are currently receiving medical treatment in stable condition.

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed his condolences, saying, “At this moment of immense grief, my thoughts go first and foremost to the families of our fallen, to whom I extend my personal condolences and those of the entire defence establishment.”

Bosnian media outlets released images showing the helicopter wreckage overturned in a flat field at the crash site.

A spokesperson for Brcko hospital told AFP that 15 people were aboard the aircraft when it crashed, with three fatalities occurring at the scene. Twelve survivors were transported to the hospital, where a fourth individual later succumbed to their injuries.

EUFOR announced that a comprehensive investigation into the incident is underway, stating, “EUFOR is conducting a full and thorough investigation of the incident and will release more information as it is verified, and when appropriate.”

The EUFOR mission, which maintains between 1,000 and 1,500 personnel, has been stationed in Bosnia since 2004, succeeding a NATO peacekeeping force present since the end of the Bosnian War in 1995. The mission continues to oversee implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement that concluded the three-year conflict.

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