EU peacekeeping helicopter crashes in northern Bosnia
Three people died and 12 were injured when an Italian CH-47 Chinook went down near Brcko on Thursday.
By Chloe Martin ·
Three personnel lost their lives and 12 others suffered injuries when a military helicopter crashed in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday. The accident occurred in the northern region of the country, affecting the local peacekeeping operation without harming nearby civilians.
The aircraft, an Italian CH-47 Chinook, was part of the European Union Force, known as EUFOR. The European Union established this mission in 2004 to take over security duties from NATO. EUFOR currently maintains a presence of 1,200 soldiers. Their mandate comes from the United Nations Security Council. Their primary role is to monitor the military terms of the peace agreement that ended the 1992-1995 war.
The crash site is located near the city of Brcko. Local news outlet Klix published images of the wreckage lying on the grass. Brcko District Mayor Sinisa Milic provided the casualty figures to Bosnian Serb television RTRS. He confirmed three deaths and 12 people receiving medical care. One of the injured remains in critical condition.
EUFOR issued a statement regarding the impact of the crash on the surrounding area. The force reported that no civilian infrastructure, private property, or vehicles were damaged. The statement also noted that no civilians were injured during the incident.
Authorities have begun investigating the cause of the crash. EUFOR stated that the investigation is ongoing. The force plans to release more details as the inquiry progresses. No official timeline for the final report has been announced yet.
Source: Stamford Advocate
