Helicopter crash in Bosnia: 2 soldiers and 2 Red Cross workers killed, 11 injured but none in a life-threatening condition

Two Red Cross workers are believed to be among the victims of the accident in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where an Italian helicopter, a CH-47, operating as part of Operation EUFOR Althea, crashed this afternoon for reasons that are still under investigation. This information comes from informed sources, who state that the accident is believed to have occurred during one of the routine daily training exercises.

According to the statement quoted by local media, several members of EUFOR staff lost their lives in the incident, whilst others sustained serious injuries. EUFOR has announced that it has launched a full and thorough investigation into the incident and will provide further information as soon as the facts have been verified and when it is appropriate to do so. According to local media, quoting the mayor of Brcko, Sinisa Milic, the death toll stands at four, with numerous others injured; they have been admitted to a local hospital, whilst some will be transferred to other healthcare facilities. “Unfortunately, some of them are in a critical condition. All have been treated at our local hospital and the injured are being transferred to medical facilities in our area, where they will be able to receive appropriate medical care,” said Mayor Milic.

Firefighters, civil protection personnel and medical teams attended the scene of the accident, where they also helped recover the bodies of the victims and the injured. The firefighters will remain at the scene throughout the night to prevent any potential fires or explosions. As Milić explained, a large quantity of kerosene spilled in the immediate vicinity of the helicopter, which requires particular caution. The mayor stated that the helicopter crashed in an uninhabited area, not far from the first houses in the settlement of Gorica. The mayor added that, as this involved an international force, an investigation is planned to establish the circumstances and causes of the accident. According to eyewitnesses, the helicopter was flying at low altitude before the crash and made several turns before hitting the ground. Milić concluded by stating that there is as yet no reliable information on the identity and nationality of the victims, but that initial reports from the scene suggest they were members of the Italia contingent of EUFOR.

“The news of the tragic accident involving an Italia EUFOR helicopter in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a cause of deep sorrow. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those who, whilst engaged in the mission for peace and stability in the region, are going through this time of anguish. My sincerest sympathy, and that of the Italian Government, goes out to them,” wrote Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on social media.

The CH-47 is an aircraft manufactured by Boeing in Philadelphia that has been in service with the Army for over fifty years. Highly versatile, it has carried out both operational and humanitarian missions at home and abroad. The ‘Chinook’ has always been one of the mainstays of the Army Aviation Command: the latest version is the CH-47F, a state-of-the-art aircraft which, whilst retaining the load-carrying capacity and versatility of its predecessor, allows it to capitalise on all the advantages offered by modern technology and to meet the highest operational standards required by contemporary operational scenarios. The CH-47 is capable of carrying 54 personnel or, alternatively, a payload of 11,340 kilograms. It is equipped with two rotors and two powerful propulsion systems. Its speed and transport capacity make it a cost-effective option, as its cost per tonne-kilometre is the lowest when compared to that of other helicopters. The United States has the largest fleet, with several hundred units, but several other countries, including Italia, also operate the Chinook. Production began in 1954 and it was first deployed overseas in Vietnam in 1962. The Chinook has a fuselage 15.54 metres long and is 5.66 metres high. The main rotor has a span of 18.3 metres. Its maximum speed is approximately 300 km per hour.