Four Italian EUFOR Personnel Killed in Chinook Helicopter Crash in Bosnia

Four Italian personnel serving with the European Union's EUFOR Althea mission were killed and 11 others injured when an Italian Army CH-47 Chinook military transport helicopter crashed near Brčko in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 29, 2026.

The helicopter went down in the Gorice area during what EUFOR described as a routine military training activity. All 15 people aboard were Italian nationals, including members of the Italian Army and the Italian Red Cross's Volunteer Military Corps.

According to Italy's Ministry of Defense, the fatalities included two Italian Army personnel and two members of the Italian Red Cross military corps. The 11 survivors were transported to medical facilities in Brčko and Tuzla, where they were receiving treatment. EUFOR reported that the injured personnel were in stable condition.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Italian Defense Ministry Identifies Four Victims

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed the identities of those killed after their families had been notified.

The two Italian Army personnel were Sergeant Simone Ruggia and Sergeant Claudio Marchesi, both serving with the Army Aviation branch.

The other victims were Lieutenant Franco Adriano Zecchillo and Sergeant Laura Procacci, members of the Italian Red Cross's Volunteer Military Corps.

Crosetto said Italian military medical personnel had been dispatched to Bosnia and Herzegovina to support those injured in the accident.

The minister also announced plans to visit the injured personnel alongside Italy's Chief of Defense Staff and said the tragedy would affect preparations for Italy's Armed Forces Day commemorations on November 4.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed condolences to the families and colleagues of those killed, acknowledging their service in support of peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

Crash Occurred Near Brčko During Routine Mission

Local emergency services, police and EUFOR personnel responded to the crash near Gorice, a settlement in the Brčko District of northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Three personnel were pronounced dead following the crash, while a fourth later died from injuries at a hospital in Brčko.

EUFOR confirmed that no civilians were injured and that no civilian buildings, vehicles or other property had been damaged.

The mission said it was conducting a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the accident and would release further details once the information had been verified.

Local authorities and EUFOR also urged the public to avoid speculation about the cause of the crash.

Chinook Helicopters Support EUFOR Operations Across Bosnia

The CH-47 Chinook is a twin-engine, tandem-rotor military transport helicopter designed for troop transport, heavy-lift operations, logistical support and medical evacuation.

Italian Chinook helicopters have played an important role in EUFOR's multinational operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, supporting the movement of soldiers and equipment between operational areas.

During the Quick Response 2026 exercise previously covered by AdriaDefense, Italian CH-47 helicopters transported multinational personnel as part of rapid reinforcement exercises around Krčmarice and Bijeljina.

These aviation capabilities allow EUFOR to move troops across Bosnia and Herzegovina's mountainous terrain and provide support to ground operations.

The European Union launched Operation Althea in December 2004, taking over peacekeeping responsibilities from NATO's Stabilisation Force.

The mission operates under an international mandate and supports the maintenance of a safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while also assisting the country's armed forces through training and cooperation activities.

EUFOR has not announced whether the helicopter crash will affect its ongoing aviation operations or scheduled military training activities.

Investigators have yet to establish the cause of the accident, and no conclusions have been announced regarding mechanical failure, weather conditions or other possible contributing factors.