Andrea Innocenti An Italian Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed on October 29 in the village of Gorice , near Brčko , Bosnia and Herzegovina. The accident killed four Italian personnel—two Army personnel and two Italian Red Cross personnel —and injured eleven. The operation was part of the EUFOR Althea mission , a European Union effort to stabilize Bosnia.
The causes of the disaster are still under investigation, but a possible contact with high-voltage cables has been mentioned among the hypotheses.
The victims and their role in the European mission
The four missing people have been identified as Simone , Claudio , Franco Adriano and Laura . The first two were pilots and specialists at the Aviation Center in Viterbo , while the latter two carried out medical activities in the Volunteer Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross.
All fifteen passengers on board were Italian citizens, engaged in a routine training flight between Pratica di Mare military airport and the Gorice base . The presence of medical personnel highlights the multifunctional nature of the mission, which combines troop transport, logistical support, and local medical assistance.
The context of the Eufor Althea mission
Since then, the EUFOR Althea mission has been led by Italy under the command of General Maurizio Fronda . The Italian contingent is the largest, with approximately 300 soldiers out of a total of 1,600 from 24 countries. The headquarters is located at Camp Budmir , near Sarajevo, and its objective is to consolidate peace, train local forces, and ensure security in the six republics of the former Yugoslavia. The CH-47 Chinook , designed in the 1960s by Boeing, is known for its ability to transport up to fifty people or large loads, which is why it has often been used in peacekeeping missions and rescue operations.
Investigations, hypotheses and response from the authorities
Brčko District Mayor Siniša Milić confirmed that the injured were treated by local medical personnel and transported to Brčko Hospital, with some later transferred to better equipped facilities. The Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarah Castellani , visited the crash site, emphasizing that the causes remain unclear. The Ministry of Defense indicated the possibility of a collision with power lines, but did not rule out other possibilities, such as a low-altitude maneuvering error. Eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter was flying at low altitude and made several turns before touching the ground.
Impact on Operation EUFOR and international reactions
Despite the tragedy, the EUFOR Althea mission declared its intention to continue its operations, as the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a European priority. Command authorities temporarily suspended training flights with the CH-47 Chinook to allow for investigations, but ensured the continuity of other logistical and medical support operations. The European Union expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the presence of approximately 1,600 troops on the ground, emphasizing that the sacrifice of the fallen strengthens the determination to ensure peace in the region.
The national tribute to Rome
The day after the disaster, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni , accompanied by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto , laid a bouquet of roses at the Circus Maximus as a sign of respect. Meloni invited citizens to bring flowers to the site, so that "this gesture may express our affection, respect, and gratitude." Her message on social media recalled the names of the four victims, assuring them that "they will not be forgotten." The tribute allowed the entire nation to share in the mourning and honor the sacrifice of the Italian soldiers and volunteers deployed in Bosnia.