Italian CH-47 Crash in Bosnia: EUFOR Chinook Goes Down Near Brčko
An Italian military CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to the European Union’s Operation Althea crashed in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the afternoon of 29 October 2026, Italy’s Ministry of Defence said on its official X account. The cause of the Italian CH-47 crash is still being investigated, and the ministry said it could not yet release further details, particularly on the condition of the personnel on board.
- Aircraft: Italian CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter
- Mission: EUFOR Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Location: Brčko area, north-eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (local media cite Gorice)
- Casualties: three dead and 12 injured according to local media citing Brčko health officials; not yet confirmed by Rome
- Cause: under investigation
What Italy’s Defence Ministry said
In its statement, the Italian Ministry of Defence said the helicopter, engaged in the EUFOR Althea operation, had come down “for causes still being determined” and that rescue teams had intervened promptly. The ministry added that it was withholding further comment while it awaited more precise information, above all on the health of the crew and passengers.
EUFOR confirms incident near Brčko
EUFOR, the EU-led force in the country, confirmed that one of its aircraft crashed during a routine operation in the Brčko area. According to statements reported by Bosnian outlets, the mission said no civilians were injured and no civilian infrastructure, property or vehicles were damaged. It announced a full and detailed investigation into the circumstances and causes of the accident and urged the public to rely only on official channels.
Unconfirmed casualty reports
Regional media, including N1 and Klix.ba, reported that three people were killed and 12 injured, citing the Brčko health centre; one outlet said one of the injured was in a life-threatening condition. A journalist at the scene was quoted as saying 15 people were on board. Witnesses told local media the helicopter began spinning in the air before it fell. These figures had not been confirmed by Italian or EUFOR officials at the time of writing.
Background: Operation Althea
Operation Althea was launched in December 2004, when the European Union took over from NATO’s SFOR stabilisation force to support the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. Italy is among the contributors to the mission. The CH-47 Chinook is the Italian Army’s main heavy-lift helicopter, used for troop and cargo transport. Further details on the crash are expected once the investigation progresses.
Featured image: Italian Army / CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
