Lucrezia Ciotti Four dead and eleven injured: this is the toll from the crash of a CH-47 military helicopter in Bosnia and Herzegovina during a training mission. Those killed were two Italian Army soldiers and two members of the Italian Red Cross: Simone Ruggia, Claudio Marchesi, Franco Adriano Zecchillo, and Laura Procacci.
The conditions of the injured, the causes of the crash and the condolences of the institutions
The eleven survivors were transferred to hospitals in Brčko and Tuzla , where they received medical care. Minister Crosetto assured that Italian military medical personnel have already been dispatched to the facilities to closely monitor the conditions of the wounded.
The exact circumstances remain to be reconstructed : according to initial reports, the CH-47 flew at low altitude, making several turns before crashing. Among the hypotheses reported is a possible impact with high-tension power lines, while weather conditions do not appear to have played a role. It is still unclear, however, what caused the crash.
The Ministry of Defense confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that analysis of the wreckage will be one of the first steps in the investigation.
The aircraft, which departed from Viterbo and transited through Pratica di Mare military airport, was in Bosnia for an activity that EUFOR described as "routine training." The CH-47 Chinook is a heavy transport helicopter manufactured by Boeing, used by several countries for its load capacity of up to 50 personnel. Operation EUFOR Althea , active since 2004, was launched to contribute to the stabilization of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the 1992-1995 conflict, replacing the previous NATO mission. It currently involves approximately 1.600 military personnel from 24 countries, with Italy among the main contributors.
The tragedy has prompted condolences from the highest levels of government, starting with President Sergio Mattarella , who wrote to General Luciano Portolano, Chief of the Defense General Staff, expressing " feelings of condolence and heartfelt solidarity for the pain caused by this tragic event ." Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Senate President Ignazio La Russa also expressed their sympathy. The national president of the Italian Red Cross, Rosario Valastro, remembered his two lost colleagues: " The pain of the sudden passing of our two colleagues is indescribable; we are already supporting their families ."
As a sign of mourning, Crosetto finally announced changes to the events planned for Armed Forces Day on November 4th: the Defense Village, scheduled to open the following day, will not be open as originally planned. Instead, the space will become a place of reflection and commemoration, where citizens and institutions can express their support for the four fallen soldiers, their families, and the Armed Forces with " a prayer, a flower, a card, or simply being present ."
Helicopter crash in Bosnia, four Italians dead: who were they and what were they doing on the mission?
Simone Ruggia, Claudio Marchesi, Franco Adriano Zecchillo, and Laura Procacci are the four people who lost their lives in the accident involving an Italian CH-47 military helicopter in the late afternoon of Thursday, October 29, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aircraft, engaged in the international operation EUFOR Althea, crashed in the Brčko area, near the border with Serbia. A total of 15 people were on board: in addition to the four victims, 11 others were injured , but their lives are not believed to be in danger. Two of the deceased were members of the Italian Army , while the other two were members of the Italian Red Cross Volunteer Military Corps.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto officially announced the identities of the fallen in a message published on X. They are Sergeant Simone Ruggia, 30, originally from Salerno, and Sergeant Claudio Marchesi, 35, from Orvieto, both serving with the Army Aviation Command (AVES) in Viterbo. The two were assigned to the First Antares Regiment of the Training Center: Ruggia was the pilot, while Marchesi was the on-board specialist, responsible for the aircraft's technical aspects. The other two victims were Lieutenant Franco Adriano Zecchillo, a doctor with the Red Cross Military Corps, who would have turned 65 on October 31, and Sergeant Laura Procacci, 24, a nurse originally from Andria. This was the latter's first international mission. The mayor of the Apulian city, Giovanna Bruno, remembered her on social media as a young woman " known for her temperament and her strong positive attitude; a life steeped in volunteerism and sound principles ." Crosetto expressed his deepest condolences: " They lost their lives serving Italy, the Defense Ministry, and the Army ."
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