Italian Chinook helicopter crashes in Bosnia — 4 killed

Four people were killed and 11 others injured Thursday when an Italian military CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter crashed during a routine training exercise in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aircraft was taking part in a European peacekeeping operation when it went down near Goritza in the Brčko District at approximately 06:00 local time.

The helicopter was carrying 15 people in total as part of the EUFOR mission, the European Union's peacekeeping force in Bosnia. Italy's Defense Ministry confirmed that among the four dead were two members of the Italian armed forces and two personnel from the Italian Red Cross military volunteer corps.

Video circulating on social media shows the helicopter losing control, spinning as it descends, and crashing to the ground. The aircraft sustained severe damage, with images from the scene showing its wreckage scattered across the ground.

Bosnia's state news agency reported that the cause of the crash remains unknown. Italy's Defense Ministry has not released further details about the circumstances of the disaster and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to an official statement, the relevant authorities have opened a full investigation to determine what caused the crash. Local investigative teams have begun collecting evidence from the scene in an effort to establish whether the incident resulted from mechanical failure or another factor.

EUFOR operates in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the European peacekeeping mission and regularly conducts military training exercises and operations throughout the region.

Chinook helicopters serve as primary military transport aircraft in numerous armed forces worldwide and are designed to carry troops and equipment during operational missions and training exercises.