Crash during a routine exercise

Four European Union Force (EUFOR) personnel were killed and 11 others injured after an Italian CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed during a routine training exercise in the Brčko region on the evening of Thursday 29 October 2026, Qazinform reported on 30 October, citing EUFOR. EUFOR confirmed the accident occurred in the Gorice area, near Brčko, roughly 180 km north of Sarajevo.

The four fatalities were two members of the Italian Armed Forces and two personnel from the Italian Military Red Cross. Italy’s defence ministry, via ANSA and New York Post reporting, named them as Army Sergeants Simone Ruggia and Claudio Marchesi, and Italian Red Cross Volunteer Military Corps Lieutenant Franco Adriano Zecchillo and Sergeant Laura Procacci. Fifteen people were on board the helicopter.

The injured and the investigation

Of the 11 injured, two were transferred to a medical facility in Tuzla and the remaining nine are receiving care in Brčko; EUFOR confirmed all injured are in stable condition. EUFOR confirmed no civilians were injured and no civilian property, vehicles or infrastructure were damaged.

EUFOR said it would conduct a thorough and complete investigation to ascertain the facts; the cause has not been determined. The helicopter was part of EUFOR Althea, the EU’s peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tributes from Rome

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed grief on X on 29 October 2026, saying her thoughts were with the victims, their families and all engaged in the mission for peace and stability in the region.

Sources: Qazinform (citing EUFOR) | New York Post