Four people were killed and 11 others sustained injuries after an Italian military helicopter crashed in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday, Italy's Defence Ministry confirmed. The helicopter was participating in the European Union's peacekeeping mission in the country when the accident occurred.
The victims included two Italian Army personnel and two members of the Italian Red Cross' Volunteer Military Corps. Emergency teams took all 11 survivors to hospitals for medical treatment. None of the injured was reported to be in critical condition. According to the Defence Ministry, 15 people were travelling aboard the helicopter when it went down.
Wreckage Scattered Across Crash Site
The helicopter crashed near the village of Gorice in the Brcko district, Italian news agency ANSA reported. Authorities have not yet established what caused the accident. Italy's Defence Ministry confirmed that an investigation was underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash and identify the possible cause.Italian Leaders Express Grief Over Fatal Crash
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. He described the incident as a moment of immense sorrow for the country's defence establishment. "At this moment of immense grief, my thoughts go first and foremost to the families of our fallen, to whom I extend my personal condolences and those of the entire Defence establishment," he said. Crosetto also highlighted the scale of the tragedy, adding, "There are no words capable of easing such a profound loss". Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed her condolences through a post on X. She extended her support to the victims' families and everyone involved in the peacekeeping mission. "My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those who, as part of the mission to promote peace and stability in the region are experiencing hours of anguish," she wrote.La notizia del tragico incidente che ha coinvolto un elicottero italiano di EUFOR in Bosnia-Erzegovina è motivo di profondo dolore. Il mio pensiero va alle vittime, alle loro famiglie e a tutti coloro che, impegnati nella missione per la pace e la stabilità della regione, stanno vivendo ore di angoscia. A loro va la mia più sincera vicinanza e quella del Governo italiano.
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) October 29, 2026