An Italian military helicopter has crashed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, killing four people and injuring 11, the Italian Defense Ministry has confirmed. Dramatic footage shows the aircraft spinning out of control before plunging to the ground.
The CH-47 Chinook, operated by NATO member Italy, crashed on Thursday near the town of Brcko in northern Bosnia. The aircraft was deployed as part of the European Union Force (EUFOR) in the country.
Videos filmed by witnesses show the twin-rotor helicopter spiraling downward while flying at low altitude before crashing into a field.
The accident occurred shortly after takeoff from Brcko airport, according to Italian Ambassador Sarah Castellani. Weather conditions were reportedly favorable.
Investigators are examining several possible causes, including a collision with high-voltage power lines, ANSA reports.
All 15 people aboard were Italian nationals. Two Italian Army personnel and two members of the Italian Red Cross Military Corps are among the dead. The 11 survivors were hospitalized, with none reportedly facing life-threatening injuries.
The helicopter crashed in an uninhabited area near the village of Gorica, narrowly avoiding nearby homes, according to local officials.
The EU-led military mission traces its origins to NATO’s intervention in Bosnia following the 1992-1995 war between Bosnian Serbs, Bosniaks, and Croats. Around 50,000 NATO troops were deployed in 1996 to enforce the peace agreement, before the EU took over the mission in 2004. EUFOR has since maintained a multinational military presence, with its stated objectives including assisting Bosnia “on its path towards European integration.”