[REVISION HISTORY]

Italian military helicopter crash in Bosnia

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2026-10-30 18:07 UTC → 2026-10-31 07:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

An Italian CH 47 Chinook helicopter crashed near the village of Gorice in the Brcko district of Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 29, 2026. The aircraft was conducting a routine training mission as part of the EUFOR Althea peacekeeping operation. The accident resulted in the deaths of four military personnel: Sergeants Simone Ruggia and Claudio Marchesi from the Italian Army Aviation, and Lieutenant Franco Adriano Zecchillo and Sergeant Laura Procacci from the Italian Red Cross Voluntary Military Corps. Of the 15 people on board, 11 others were injured. The injured received treatment in Brcko and Tuzla and were reported to be in stable condition. EUFOR has launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash, noting that no civilian infrastructure or personnel were affected. Brcko Mayor Siniša Milić confirmed that no civilian property or vehicles were damaged. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto traveled to Bosnia to visit the injured, accompanied by military medical specialists. In Rome, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto held a memorial at the Circo Massimo to honor the victims. ~~Meloni shared a tribute on social media, naming the deceased and describing them as lives cut short while serving Italy.~~ The government designated the Defense Village as a place for citizens to leave flowers and messages of ~~respect for the fallen~~ respect. Multiple judicial and ~~their families. While official conclusions regarding~~ technical inquiries are now underway. In Rome, the ~~cause have not been released, preliminary reports~~ military prosecutor has opened an exploratory proceeding, while the ordinary prosecutor has opened a file for manslaughter. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, authorities have ~~suggested~~ ordered the formation of a ~~possible technical defect~~ specialized aviation accident investigation team. Preliminary hypotheses being examined include a rotor malfunction that may have caused the aircraft to lose control, or ~~contact~~ a potential collision with high-voltage power ~~lines.~~ lines, as reported by witnesses who observed the helicopter flying at low altitude before the impact.

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