Three killed in crash of EU peacekeeping helicopter in northern Bosnia
A CH-47 Chinook operated by the EUFOR mission crashed near Brcko, injuring 12 personnel and prompting an immediate investigation.
By James Foster ·
An Italian-operated CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed in northern Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday, killing three people and injuring 12 others. The aircraft, part of the European Union's peacekeeping force, went down in an area near the city of Brcko. Local authorities confirmed the casualties shortly after the incident.
Sinisa Milic, the mayor of the Brcko district, told Serbo-Bosnian television station RTRS that three individuals died in the crash. He reported that 12 others received medical attention, with one of the injured in critical condition. The specific identities of the victims have not yet been released to the public.
The EUFOR mission stated that no civil infrastructure, private property, or vehicles were damaged in the crash. The force also confirmed that no civilians were injured. A news portal called Klix published photographs of the wreckage, showing the destroyed helicopter resting on a grassy field.
EUFOR announced that an investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway. The mission indicated that further details would be released as the inquiry progresses. The force has not yet determined whether mechanical failure or weather conditions contributed to the accident.
The EUFOR mission consists of 1,200 soldiers and has been present in the region since 2004. It took over operations from NATO to help maintain security and oversee the military aspects of the peace agreement that ended the 1992-1995 war. The mission operates under a mandate from the United Nations Security Council.
