An MI-17 helicopter of the Pakistani army crashed in the Kashmir region on Wednesday, claiming the lives of all military personnel on board.
The military said that the incident was caused by a technical fault but did not reveal how many people were aboard.
The crash occurred near Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, amidst an ongoing protest and strike organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a recently proscribed alliance of various groups. However, the military explicitly stated it did not indicate any connection between the public unrest and the helicopter's crash.
Eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter went down shortly after taking off from a local helipad. Emergency services, including ambulances, swiftly arrived at the site, where they transported the victims to a nearby medical facility.
"Rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site," the military said, adding that a formal board of inquiry had been established to ascertain the precise cause of the accident.
People in Muzaffarabad suggested that the helicopter was transporting an unspecified number of paramilitary Rangers. These personnel had been deployed for security duties in the region, where tensions were significantly elevated after an outlawed group attacked police and security forces over the weekend, resulting in the deaths of four officers.
Local residents reported seeing thick smoke billowing from the crash site and observed multiple ambulances transporting casualties.
Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound sorrow over the crash and paid tribute to those killed. In separate statements, they extended their sympathies to the families of the victims.
Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir conveyed deep sorrow and condolences to the bereaved families.
Such aviation incidents aren’t uncommon in Pakistan. In September, an army helicopter on a routine flight crashed in the country's northern region, claiming the lives of two pilots and three technicians.
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