Italian Chinook Crashes in Bosnia, Killing Three EUFOR Peacekeepers
The aircraft went down near Brcko on Thursday, injuring 12 personnel while local officials confirmed no civilian structures were damaged.
By Marta Gray ·
An Italian-made CH-47 Chinook helicopter belonging to the European Union force in Bosnia crashed in the north of the country on Thursday, killing three people and injuring 12 others. The accident occurred near the city of Brcko. Local authorities confirmed the casualty count shortly after the impact.
Brcko District Mayor Sinisa Milic told Serbo-Bosnian television station RTRS that three individuals died in the crash. He stated that 12 others received medical attention, with one person listed in critical condition. The news portal Klix published images of the wreckage, showing the destroyed helicopter resting on a grassy area.
The European Union Force, known as EUFOR, has launched an investigation into the incident. The organization stated that it will release more details as the inquiry progresses. The mission took over from NATO in 2004. It currently fields 1,200 soldiers tasked with maintaining security and overseeing military provisions of the peace agreement that ended the 1992-1995 war. EUFOR operates under a United Nations Security Council mandate.
In a separate release, EUFOR noted that the crash did not damage civil infrastructure, private property, or vehicles. The force confirmed that no civilians were hurt in the incident. The helicopter was part of the Italian contingent within the multinational peacekeeping unit.
The crash marks the latest operational challenge for the European-led mission in the region. The force continues its work to monitor the military aspects of the peace deal. Authorities in Brcko are coordinating with EUFOR investigators to determine the cause of the failure. No further timeline for the investigation's conclusion was provided by the organization on Thursday.
