Four dead as Italian military helicopter crashes during EU mission in Bosnia - The Independent

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Four people lost their lives and 11 were injured when an Italian military helicopter came down in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday.

The aircraft was operating with the EU peacekeeping mission in the country at the time, according to Italy's defence ministry. Fifteen people were on board in total, the ministry said.

Two of the dead were members of the Italian army, while the other two belonged to the Volunteer Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross, the ministry added.

All 11 of the injured were receiving treatment, and none was in a life-threatening condition.

"At this moment of immense grief, my thoughts go first and foremost to the families of our fallen, to whom I extend my personal condolences and those of the entire Defence establishment," Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said.

The helicopter came down in the village of Gorice, in Brcko district, ANSA news agency reported.

Local media carried images showing a military transport helicopter overturned on the ground and shattered into pieces.

The aircraft had been deployed as part of Operation Althea, run by the European Union Force, which oversees the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

"There are no words capable of easing such a profound loss," Crosetto said.

Italy's defence ministry said the cause of the crash was under investigation. Inquiries were underway to establish the circumstances of the accident, the ministry added.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed her condolences, writing on X: "My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those who, as part of the mission to promote peace and stability in the region are experiencing hours of anguish."