The victims included two members of the Italian Army and two members of the Italian Red Cross’s Volunteer Military Corps.
The ministry said all 11 injured people were receiving medical treatment and none was in a life-threatening condition. A total of 15 people were on board the helicopter.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto expressed his condolences to the families of those killed, saying his thoughts were with them during what he described as a moment of immense grief.
“There are no words capable of easing such a profound loss,” Crosetto said.
Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that the helicopter crashed in the village of Gorice in the Brcko District. Images published by local media showed a military transport helicopter overturned on the ground and broken into pieces.
The aircraft was deployed as part of Operation Althea, the European Union Force mission responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia in 1995.
Italy’s Defence Ministry said an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the crash and establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed her condolences in a message posted on X.
She said her thoughts were with the victims, their families and everyone involved in the mission to promote peace and stability in the region.
