All personnel martyred in Army Mi-17 crash near Muzaffarabad: ISPR

• Helicopter went down during take-off due to reported technical fault: military media wing

• Board of inquiry ordered to determine exact cause of accident

• Field Marshal Asim Munir expresses deep grief over loss of personnel

• President, PM, DPM and CM Bugti extend condolences to bereaved families

 RAWALPINDI/MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Army said on Wednesday that an Mi-17 helicopter of Army Aviation crashed in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, killing all personnel on board, according to the military’s media wing.

“No survivors were reported after an Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off due to a technical fault,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The ISPR confirmed that the aircraft went down during take-off “due to a technical fault,” adding that “all personnel on board embraced shahadat (martyrdom).” It did not specify the number of personnel aboard, but stated there were no survivors.

Rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site, while a board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact technical cause of the accident, the military’s media wing added.

“A board of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact technical cause of the accident,” the ISPR said.

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with all ranks of the Pakistan Army, expressed “deep grief over the tragic loss of precious lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” the statement added.

The Mi-17 transport helicopter has been part of Pakistan Army Aviation since the late 1990s and is widely regarded as a reliable utility aircraft used for transport, logistics and operational support. It is typically crewed by three personnel and can carry up to 24 troops or four tonnes of cargo.

Over the years, the United States has also assisted in refurbishing and overhauling 22 Mi-17 helicopters in Pakistan’s fleet.

 History of Army Aviation Helicopter Crashes

In September last year, an Army aviation helicopter crashed in Gilgit-Baltistan, killing all five personnel on board.

In August 2025, a government helicopter carrying relief supplies to flood-hit Bajaur crashed due to bad weather, killing all five occupants.

In September 2024, six people were killed in another crash attributed to engine failure in northwestern Pakistan.

The second half of 2022 saw two separate helicopter crashes. On August 2, the wreckage of a Pakistan Army helicopter was found in Balochistan’s Lasbela district a day after it went missing, with all six personnel on board, including Commander 12 Corps Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali, embracing martyrdom.

The following month, six Army personnel, including two majors, were martyred when a helicopter crashed during a mission near Khost in Balochistan’s Harnai district.

In December 2021, two pilots were killed when an Army aviation helicopter crashed at Siachen in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghanche district.

A year earlier, four personnel embraced martyrdom in a helicopter crash during a casualty evacuation mission in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Astore district.

In 2015, a military helicopter crash near Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa claimed the lives of all 12 personnel on board.

 Leadership Condolences

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the helicopter crash, according to PTV News.

صدر آصف علی زرداری نے پاک فوج کے ایم آئی-17 ہیلی کاپٹر کے حادثے پر گہرے رنج و غم اور افسوس کا اظہار
صدرِ مملکت کی مظفرآباد حادثے میں اہلکاروں کی شہادت پر اہلِ خانہ سے دلی تعزیت اور ہمدردی
قوم شہداء کی عظیم قربانی کو خراجِ عقیدت پیش کرتی ہے اور اہلِ خانہ کے غم میں برابر کی شریک… pic.twitter.com/QbIThyW3Ql

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) June 10, 2026

In separate statements, both leaders extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those martyred in the incident.

“The entire nation pays tribute to the great sacrifice of the martyrs and shares the grief of the bereaved families,” President Zardari said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the personnel, saying the nation salutes the bravery and sacrifices of the armed forces.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے مظفرآباد کے قریب پاک فوج کے ایم آئی-17 ہیلی کاپٹر کے المناک حادثے پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار کیا ہے۔
وزیراعظم نے حادثے میں شہید ہونے والے تمام اہلکاروں کو خراجِ عقیدت پیش کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ پوری قوم اپنے بہادر سپوتوں کی قربانیوں کو سلام پیش کرتی ہے۔… pic.twitter.com/6NTcqs6nsb

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) June 10, 2026

Both leaders prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and patience for the bereaved families.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar expressed deep sorrow, saying he was “deeply saddened by the tragic crash,” adding that the nation salutes their courage, service and sacrifice.

Deeply saddened by the tragic crash of a Pakistan Army Aviation helicopter near Muzaffarabad, resulting in the shahadat of all brave personnel on board.

We salute their service, courage and sacrifice in the line of duty. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families…

— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) June 10, 2026

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti described the martyrs as the “pride of the nation,” paying tribute to their sacrifice for national defence and security.

مظفرآباد کے قریب پاکستان آرمی ایوی ایشن کے ایم آئی-17 ہیلی کاپٹر حادثے میں افسران اور جوانوں کی شہادت پر دلی رنج و غم ہے وطن کے یہ بہادر سپوت قوم کا فخر ہیں جنہوں نے اپنی زندگیاں ملک کی سلامتی اور دفاع کے لیے وقف کر رکھی ہیں شہداء کو خراجِ عقیدت پیش کرتا ہوں اور ان کے اہل خانہ سے…

— Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) June 10, 2026

The Senate also offered fateha for the deceased, with Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman leading the special prayer session.