The tragedy EUFOR that killed so many
An Italian military CH-47 Chinook helicopter serving with the European Union peacekeeping force (EUFOR Althea) crashed during a routine training exercise in the Brčko District of northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, killing four people and injuring 11 others.
Key Details of the Crash
• Date and Location: The crash occurred on Thursday, October 29, 2026, near the town of Gorice in the Brčko District (about 180 km northeast of Sarajevo).
• Casualties: Four people died (three at the scene and a fourth who later succumbed to injuries in the hospital), and 11 others were injured.
• Victims: The Italian Defence Ministry confirmed all 15 people on board were Italian nationals, including Army sergeants and flight technicians Simone Ruggia and Claudio Marchesi, as well as Italian Red Cross Military Corps lieutenant Franco Adriano Zecchillo and sergeant Laura Procacci.
• Impact: No civilians were injured, and no civilian property, infrastructure, or vehicles were damaged.
Investigation and Response
• Investigation: EUFOR has launched a full and comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident, with preliminary reports from Italian media noting that investigators are examining possibilities such as a potential collision with high-voltage power lines.
• Official Reactions: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President Sergio Mattarella, and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed profound grief and condolences to the families of the victims. Local authorities in Brčko declared a day of mourning following the tragedy.
Key Details of the Crash
• Date and Location: The crash occurred on Thursday, October 29, 2026, near the town of Gorice in the Brčko District (about 180 km northeast of Sarajevo).
• Casualties: Four people died (three at the scene and a fourth who later succumbed to injuries in the hospital), and 11 others were injured.
• Victims: The Italian Defence Ministry confirmed all 15 people on board were Italian nationals, including Army sergeants and flight technicians Simone Ruggia and Claudio Marchesi, as well as Italian Red Cross Military Corps lieutenant Franco Adriano Zecchillo and sergeant Laura Procacci.
• Impact: No civilians were injured, and no civilian property, infrastructure, or vehicles were damaged.
Investigation and Response
• Investigation: EUFOR has launched a full and comprehensive investigation into the cause of the accident, with preliminary reports from Italian media noting that investigators are examining possibilities such as a potential collision with high-voltage power lines.
• Official Reactions: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President Sergio Mattarella, and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed profound grief and condolences to the families of the victims. Local authorities in Brčko declared a day of mourning following the tragedy.
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