Pakistan Army Mi-17 helicopter crashes near Muzaffarabad

RAWALPINDI: A Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad on Wednesday during take-off after developing a technical fault, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The military’s media wing said all personnel on board were martyred in the crash and that there were no survivors. It did not specify the number of people aboard the aircraft.

In its statement, the ISPR said rescue and recovery teams reached the site immediately after the incident. A board of inquiry had been ordered to determine the precise technical reason behind the accident.

Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with all ranks of the army, expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the families of those who died, the ISPR said.

The helicopter went down near Muzaffarabad, with the ISPR attributing the crash to a technical problem that occurred during take-off.

The incident was reported by the military’s media wing as a developing situation, with further details expected.