Four killed as EUFOR Chinook crashes in Bosnia during routine flight

Four people died and eleven were injured when an Italian CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to the EU's EUFOR peacekeeping mission crashed near the village of Gorice in Bosnia-Herzegovina's Brčko district on Thursday afternoon.

EUFOR confirmed the crash took place during a routine flight. Italian authorities said all those aboard were Italian nationals, most of them soldiers. Two members of the Red Cross were among the dead.

The Italian ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarah Castellani, said the accident occurred immediately after take-off.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

EUFOR has monitored the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement since 2004. Italy has led the mission since the start of the year. More than one thousand soldiers are currently deployed, including German personnel.