Italian Military Chinook Crashes in Bosnia, Three Reported Dead

An Italian Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed near Brčko in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, October 29, during an operation supporting the European Union's EUFOR Althea mission. Local officials and media report three people killed and several injured.

The aircraft went down near the village of Gorice in the Brčko District in the late afternoon. EUFOR described the flight as a routine operation.

Three Deaths Reported by Local Officials

Brčko District Mayor Siniša Milić told the Bosnian daily Avaz that three people were killed and 12 were injured, one of them in critical condition.

Klix.ba reported the same figures, citing the director of the Brčko health center, who said the critically injured person would likely be transferred to the University Clinical Center in Tuzla.

Unofficial reports cited by Bosnian media said about 15 people were on board. Neither Italy's Defence Ministry nor EUFOR had confirmed the death toll or the identities of the casualties.

Italian Defence Ministry and EUFOR Respond

Italy's Defence Ministry confirmed on X that an Italian CH-47 taking part in EUFOR Althea crashed in the afternoon for reasons still being established. It said rescuers intervened promptly and that no further information could be released for now.

EUFOR confirmed that one of its aircraft crashed during a routine operation in the Brčko area, according to Al Jazeera Balkans. It said no civilian infrastructure, property or vehicles were damaged and no civilians were hurt.

EUFOR said it is carrying out a full and thorough investigation and will release more information once the facts are established. It urged the public to avoid disinformation and rely on official channels.

Italian Army Chinook Involved

Bosnian media and open-source aviation accounts identified the aircraft as an Italian Army ICH-47F, an upgraded variant of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook. The Italian ministry referred only to a CH-47.

EUFOR's Aviation Detachment is drawn from Italian Army Aviation and operates CH-47 and AB205 helicopters from Camp Butmir near Sarajevo. EUFOR says the unit supports training, territorial monitoring, transport and medical evacuation exercises with Bosnian forces and police.

Photos from the scene published by Klix show the helicopter heavily destroyed. Police, firefighters and ambulance crews from the Brčko District arrived shortly after the crash and secured the area.

EUFOR Althea and Italy's Role

EUFOR Althea is the European Union's military mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, launched in December 2004 to replace a NATO-led mission. Italy contributes personnel and aviation assets and has twice held command of the operation.

The crash comes as Rome's defense policy is already under scrutiny, after Italy reportedly delayed its next military aid package for Ukraine amid a coalition dispute.

Cause Not Yet Known

No official cause has been given. Both the Italian ministry and EUFOR said the circumstances are being investigated, and more details are expected as officials establish the facts.

Until the Italian military or EUFOR publish an official count, the reported three deaths and 12 injuries remain unconfirmed by the two organizations.