Pakistan Military Helicopter Crashes Near Muzaffarabad; All Onboard Killed

An Mi-17 helicopter belonging to the Pakistan Army Aviation has crashed near Muzaffarabad. All military personnel on board were killed in the tragic accident.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Wednesday (June 10).

Explaining the cause of the accident, the military's media wing stated that the helicopter encountered a technical snag during takeoff. The ISPR further confirmed that all officers and soldiers on board embraced martyrdom, leaving no survivors.

While the ISPR did not specify the exact number of military personnel on board, search and rescue teams rushed to the site to secure the area and begin recovery operations.

An inquiry committee has been ordered to investigate the exact circumstances surrounding the crash, the statement added.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with officers and personnel of all ranks of the Pakistan Army, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

Prior to this incident, a military aircraft crashed due to technical issues in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan in September last year, killing five soldiers.

In August of the same year, a rescue aircraft belonging to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government crashed in the Mohmand district due to adverse weather, claiming the lives of two pilots and three crew members.