4 killed, 11 injured as helicopter with EU force crashes in Bosnia

On Thursday, a tragic accident occurred when an Italian military helicopter crashed during a training mission in Bosnia. Four Italian soldiers and two Red Cross volunteers lost their lives in the incident, according to EUFOR spokesperson Salih Ibrahimbegovic. The helicopter, a Chinook CH-47, was conducting a routine operation in the Brcko region, approximately 180km north of Sarajevo.

Eleven others onboard sustained injuries, with three transported to Brcko hospital. The fourth victim succumbed to injuries following the crash. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed his sympathies to the families of the fallen soldiers, acknowledging the profound grief the nation is currently experiencing.

The European Union Force in Bosnia, responsible for maintaining peace in the Balkan country, typically comprises between 1,000 and 1,500 personnel. Three additional patients from the hospital are expected to be transferred to a facility in Tuzla, about 50km from Brcko.

EUFOR is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and will release further information as it becomes available. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, no civilian infrastructure, property, or vehicles were reported to have been damaged, and there were no injuries to civilians.