EUFOR helicopter crash in Bosnia kills Italian crew members
A CH-47 Chinook taking part in the EU's Althea peacekeeping mission crashed near Brčko on Thursday; officials gave differing death tolls.
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A CH-47 Chinook helicopter serving with the European Union's EUFOR Althea peacekeeping mission crashed on Thursday near Brčko, in north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, during what the mission called a routine operation. All those aboard were reported to be Italian.
Brčko's mayor, Siniša Milić, said four people were killed and twelve injured, some critically, with the wounded taken to a local hospital for treatment. EUFOR's own statement, cited by Italian news agency ANSA, referred to "several" personnel killed without giving a number, while Bosnian broadcaster Kurir and Spain's EFE, citing Bosnian public television, put the toll at three dead and twelve injured.
Witnesses told Bosnian media the helicopter spun in the air and banked several times before going down in an uninhabited area near the village of Gorice, close to the first houses of the settlement. Milić said a large amount of kerosene had spilled near the wreck, and firefighters planned to stay at the site overnight as a precaution against fire.
EUFOR said it had opened an investigation into the cause of the crash and would release further details once they were confirmed. Italy's defence ministry said checks were under way, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was "deeply saddened" and that her thoughts were with the victims, their families and the Italian troops still serving on the mission. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy's ambassador to Bosnia was travelling to Brčko and that the foreign ministry would give "all necessary support." Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also offered their condolences; Kallas said she had spoken with Tajani and Italy's defence minister, Guido Crosetto.
ANSA reported that no soldiers from Italy's Sassari infantry brigade, which has around 150 troops deployed to Bosnia since June and is due to return home in January, were among those involved in Thursday's crash.
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What we know
- Official · EUFOR A EUFOR CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed near Brčko in north-eastern Bosnia on Thursday during a routine operation.
- Official · Brčko mayor Siniša Milić / EUFOR Brčko mayor Siniša Milić said four people died and twelve were injured; Bosnian public television and EUFOR's early statement referred only to three deaths.
- 2+ outlets · Kurir, Digi24 All those aboard were reported to be Italian nationals serving with the EUFOR Althea mission.
- Official · EUFOR EUFOR has opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.
- 1 outlet · ANSA Italy's Sassari infantry brigade, with around 150 troops in Bosnia, said none of its soldiers were involved.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed The exact death toll (three or four) and whether any civilians were aboard.
- Unconfirmed The cause of the crash.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Figure history
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Why it matters for Europe
EUFOR Althea has operated in Bosnia since 2004, taking over peacekeeping duties from NATO after the country's war in the 1990s, and currently has several hundred troops from 24 countries in Bosnia. The mission helps uphold the peace agreement that ended that war.
Sources
Reported by 18 reports from 18 independent outlets in 11 countries.
- La Stampa: Elicottero militare italiano cade in Bosnia: 4 morti e 12 feriti
- Kurir: LETELICA SE VRTELA U VAZDUHU, PA SE RASPALA! Očevici o padu helikoptera kod Brčkog, poginule tri osobe, 12 povređeno, jedna kritično - oglasio se EUFOR (VIDEO)
- EFE: Al menos tres muertos al estrellarse en Bosnia un helicóptero de la Fuerza Operativa Rápida Europea (EUFOR), según la televisión pública
- Il Fatto Quotidiano: Un elicottero militare italiano è precipitato in Bosnia: “Tre morti e 12 feriti”. La difesa: “Verifiche in corso”
- La Razón: Al menos tres muertos al estrellarse en Bosnia un helicóptero de la Fuerza Rápida Europea
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- How many people died in the Bosnia helicopter crash?
- Officials gave differing figures: Brčko's mayor said four were killed, while Bosnian public television and EUFOR's early statement put the toll at three; twelve people were injured.
- What was the helicopter doing?
- It was a CH-47 Chinook taking part in the EU's EUFOR Althea peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, and the mission said it crashed during a routine operation.
- Who runs the EUFOR mission in Bosnia?
- EUFOR Althea has operated in Bosnia since 2004, taking over from NATO, and currently has several hundred troops from 24 countries, including around 150 Italians.
This article was written with AI assistance from 21 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.