A MILITARY helicopter has crashed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing everybody on board in a horror incident blamed on a technical fault.
The Pakistani army confirmed the lethal smash on Wednesday however has but to disclose what number of personnel have been contained in the doomed MI-17 plane.
The chopper went down close to Muzaffarabad, the area’s capital, sparking panic because it plunged shortly after take-off from a close-by helipad.
Terrified witnesses stated the plane struggled moments after lifting into the air earlier than crashing, sending emergency crews racing to the scene.
Ambulances shortly arrived and rushed victims to a close-by hospital, however all these onboard have been declared lifeless.
The tragedy unfolded in opposition to the backdrop of ongoing protests and a strike organised by the Joint Awami Motion Committee – a not too long ago banned alliance of teams.
Nevertheless, army officers have been fast to emphasize there is no such thing as a indication the unrest is linked to the deadly crash.
“Rescue and restoration groups instantly reached the crash web site,” the army stated, confirming a full investigation is now underway to uncover precisely what went flawed.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led tributes to these killed, expressing their “deep sorrow” and providing heartfelt condolences to grieving households.
Military chief Area Marshal Asim Munir additionally paid tribute to the fallen personnel, describing the loss as a devastating blow and increasing sympathies to their family members.
The tragedy is the most recent in a string of lethal army aviation disasters within the nation.
In September 2025, one other military helicopter plunged to the bottom throughout a routine mission in northern Pakistan, killing two pilots and three technicians onboard.
Crashes involving army plane should not unusual in Pakistan, usually blamed on technical faults and difficult flying circumstances.
It comes after a helicopter plunged into a dense jungle just minutes after take-off killing eight people on board on Borneo, Malaysia.
The plane vanished from the radar 5 minutes into its journey over Borneo’s huge palm oil plantations on Thursday.
It had departed from Melawi district in West Kalimantan province and was heading for one more distant plantation in Kubu Raya when catastrophe struck.
Search groups later made the grim discovery deep in thick forest in Sekadau district, the place the wreckage was discovered smashed among the many timber.
All eight victims – together with two crew members and 6 passengers – have been recovered from the crash web site, officers from the Nationwide Search and Rescue Company and the Transportation Ministry confirmed.
Among the many lifeless was a Malaysian nationwide.
The Airbus H130 was being operated by its proprietor PT Matthew Air Nusantara.
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