Published on •Updated
An Italian helicopter participating in an EU peacekeeping operation has crashed near the town of Brčko in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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The European Union military mission EUFOR confirmed that the CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed on Thursday afternoon. A spokesman said four crew members were killed and 11 injured.
A Brčko hospital spokesman said three of the 15 crew members on board the helicopter were killed in the crash and a fourth died in hospital.
“Twelve people were transported to our hospital. Unfortunately, a fourth person died from their injuries in hospital,” said spokesperson Salih Ibrahimbegovic.
EUFOR also said that no civilians were injured and no infrastructure, property or civilian vehicles were damaged in the accident.
The accident occurred in Gorice, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) northeast of Sarajevo.
“As a result of this accident, a number of EUFOR personnel tragically lost their lives and others were seriously injured,” EUFOR said in a subsequent statement.
The Bosnian Defense Ministry said that “it was not possible to make further statements, pending more precise information, in particular on the state of health of the personnel.”
EUFOR urged the public not to spread unverified information or disinformation and to rely on official channels for updates on the incident.
Brčko district mayor Siniša Milić said three people died and 12 others were injured, including one in critical condition.
“All were treated in a hospital in Brčko. Medical staff are on alert,” he said.
Further details about those on board and the cause of the accident are expected to be released once authorities complete their investigation.
The approximately 1,200-strong EUFOR mission has operated in Bosnia since 2004, when it took over from NATO. It works under a mandate from the U.N. Security Council to help maintain security and oversee the military provisions of the peace deal that ended the 1992-1995 war.
Additional sources • AFP
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