Four service members were killed in the crash of an Italian EUFOR helicopter in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Four service members were killed and 11 others injured after an Italian CH-47 helicopter belonging to the EUFOR Althea mission crashed in Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 29, 2026. Italy’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the toll and announced investigations to establish the cause of the accident.

In brief: There were 15 people on board the helicopter; four died and 11 were injured. The deceased were two Italian army personnel and two members of the Italian Red Cross Voluntary Military Corps. The Italian ministry said the injured were not in life-threatening condition at the time of the statement. The cause of the crash had not been established; investigations were opened.

There were 15 people on board. Two of those who died belonged to the Italian army, while the other two were members of the Italian Red Cross Voluntary Military Corps. The ministry said the families had been informed before these details were made public.

In its statement on the toll, the ministry said the 11 injured were receiving medical care and that none was in life-threatening condition. Italian authorities also ordered the deployment of a medical team to support the affected personnel.

The accident occurred during a routine training activity near Brčko, according to an EUFOR update reported by N1. The same report said that nine of the injured received medical care in Brčko, while two were transferred to Tuzla. This information describes the situation reported on the evening of October 29.

Operation Althea was launched by the European Union in December 2004, after taking over the responsibilities of the NATO mission. Its role is to help maintain a safe environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina and ensure compliance with the Dayton peace agreement.

The Italian Ministry of Defence’s initial announcement confirmed the involvement of a CH-47 in Operation Althea and the intervention of rescue teams, without providing a casualty toll. A subsequent statement specified the number of victims but did not give a technical explanation for the crash. The cause of the accident remains to be established through an investigation.