The European Union expressed shock and sadness Thursday at the news that an EU peacekeeping flight had crashed in the hills of central Bosnia, killing all four soldiers aboard according to DPA. "I am shocked and saddened by today's helicopter accident in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. Solana said the European Union Force (EUFOR) mission was making "an outstanding contribution" to the EU's military operation in Bosnia by supporting security and stability at a crucial time for the region. Similar feelings were expressed by the Slovenian presidency of the EU, which like Solana extended its "heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Spanish and German Government in this difficult moment. The BO-105 chopper with two Spanish pilots and two German officers went down near Banja Luka around noon during a transport flight from Sarajevo, the Spanish Defence Ministry said in Madrid. The crew sent out a may-day call before crashing in a heavily wooded, hard-to-reach area, EUFOR headquarters said in Sarajevo. The crew of a second helicopter saw smoke rising from the crash site. The cause of the crash was under investigation, officials said.
