Susanna Riva Yesterday afternoon, an Italian Army CH-47F Chinook helicopter crashed into a plowed field near Brčko, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The aircraft was engaged in a routine training mission as part of the European Union's Operation EUFOR Althea . After reaching an altitude of approximately fifty meters, the helicopter began to spin and then crashed violently to the ground, breaking off its right tail section.
Local authorities immediately rescued the survivors, but the event left a tragic toll: four military personnel died and eleven were injured . The victims include Army Sergeants Simone Ruggia and Claudio Marchesi, Lieutenant Franco Adriano Zecchillo of the Red Cross Volunteer Military Corps, and Sergeant Laura Procacci, also of the Red Cross.
The injured were transported to two Bosnian hospitals, one in Brčko and the other in Tuzla.
The victims and the number of injured
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto traveled to Bosnian territory to visit the hospitals where the survivors are being treated. He was accompanied by Italian doctors and members of the rescue unit.
Crosetto stated that, given the dynamics of the crash, it is a miracle that nine of the injured are in relatively good condition , while two suffered more serious injuries but are being observed. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accompanied by the minister, laid a bouquet of roses at the Defense Village , set up at the Circus Maximus, in memory of the four fallen.
Remembering the fallen
During the ceremony at the Circus Maximus, the prime minister wrote on social media: "Four lives lost while serving Italy. Today my thoughts are with them and with those who love them ." This gesture was intended to transform the event into a place of remembrance open to all, where citizens can leave flowers as a sign of respect. The families of the fallen received words of support from Italian and Bosnian institutions, including the promise of a possible monument dedicated to them.
Technical and judicial investigations
The Rome Military Prosecutor's Office , led by Marco De Paolis, has opened a "Model 45" investigation, without any criminal charges, to analyze the circumstances of the disaster. At the same time, a technical commission from the Ministry of Defense was sent to the scene to examine the wreckage, extract data from the black boxes, and interview survivors.
Hypothesis on mechanical failure
Footage shared on social media shows the helicopter, once lifted off, spinning before crashing. One of the most likely causes is a malfunction in one of the two rotors , which would have compromised the aircraft's stability. Other hypothesized scenarios include a possible defect in the pilot's crank control or a failure in the power management system. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were stable, with winds of less than five kilometers per hour, so the initial analysis ruled out weather as a factor.
Institutional reactions and political debate
The tragic event quickly sparked a political debate in Italy. Members of Parliament (MPs) Arnaldo Lomuti and Bruno Marton, members of the Five Star Movement (M5S), called for a "full investigation" into the causes, insinuating possible deficiencies in the aircraft's maintenance. Minister Crosetto responded by calling these accusations "an unworthy example of politics" and emphasized that military helicopters are more well-maintained than civilian aircraft. Others, including Undersecretary Isabella Rauti, condemned the M5S's comments as "acts of profiteering."
The M5S's accusations and the government's response
The debate broadened with interventions from other stakeholders: MP Giorgio Mulè (FI) called the controversy "cowardly," while MP Paola Chiesa (FdI) highlighted how the Five Star Movement (M5S) wanted to "exploit" a tragedy. Despite the tensions, the authorities' priority remains the technical investigation, which must result in a detailed report to assess any liability and, if necessary, implement corrective measures regarding the management of the helicopter fleet.
Meanwhile, Bosnian authorities have called in a specialized team from the Ministry of Transport to collaborate with the EUFOR Althea commission in reconstructing the events. Brčko Mayor Sinisa Milic praised the pilots' courage, stating that their intervention prevented the plane from crashing into residential areas, thus avoiding civilian casualties. The case, still evolving, remains a focus of attention in both Italy and Bosnia, with the hope that the investigation will provide clear answers and prevent future accidents.