Edward Marchesi On the afternoon of October 29, 2026, an Italian Army CH -47 Chinook helicopter crashed in the Brčko area, in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, during a routine operation as part of the EUFOR Althea mission . The accident resulted in the loss of four military personnel and members of the Italian Red Cross Volunteer Military Corps, while eleven other people on board were rescued and transported to the hospital.
Accident in the Brčko area: what happened?
According to witnesses gathered on site, the helicopter was taking off from Brčko Airport when it encountered problems that led to a loss of altitude and a crash. The aircraft, engaged in a daily training mission, was carrying fifteen people, including soldiers from the Italian Army Aviation Corps (AVES) in Viterbo and Red Cross workers.
The impact area, described by Mayor Siniša Milić as uninhabited but not far from some homes in Gorica, allowed for rapid intervention by local rescue teams.
Aircraft and passenger details
The CH-47 Chinook is a heavy twin-rotor helicopter, designed to carry up to 12 tons of cargo.
There were four confirmed victims on board: Sergeants Simone Ruggia and Claudio Marchesi , both members of the Army Aviation Command, and Red Cross volunteers Franco Adriano Zecchillo (lieutenant) and Laura Procacci (sergeant). The other eleven passengers, all Italians, were evacuated to hospitals in Brčko; one of them is in critical condition and has already undergone surgery.
Institutional reactions and relief measures
Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, announced his visit to Bosnia the following day, accompanied by the Chief of the Defence Staff, to ascertain the situation of the wounded and pay homage to the victims. In his message published on X, Crosetto underlined that the moment of silence He had been chosen to avoid further suffering for the families, but then released the names of the fallen to allow the families to receive the news.
The president of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, expressed condolences and solidarity, calling the incident a “sad circumstance” and promising the Chief of Defence Staff all the necessary support.
Brčko Mayor Siniša Milić confirmed the official figures (4 dead, 11 injured) and thanked rescue workers for their prompt response. The Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarah Castellani , stated that the accident occurred during takeoff, but the cause remains unclear. The EUFOR Althea mission issued a statement stating that there was no damage to civilian infrastructure or civilian casualties.
Impact on the Defense Village Ceremony
Due to national mourning, the inauguration ceremony for the "Defense Village," scheduled for October 30th at 14:00 PM, has been canceled. Minister Crosetto clarified that the site will still be open to the public the following day, no longer as a thanksgiving celebration but as a space to express prayers, send flowers, or send messages of sympathy to the families of the fallen and to the Armed Forces.