Muzaffarabad, June 10: At least 21 military personnel were killed after a Pakistan Army helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said. The helicopter reportedly went down shortly after take-off, triggering a major rescue and recovery operation in the area.
According to Pakistan’s military, the aircraft, identified as an MI-17 helicopter, developed a technical fault soon after take-off before crashing near the regional capital. All those on board were killed in the incident. Rescue teams, ambulances, and security personnel rushed to the crash site and shifted the bodies to a nearby hospital.
The military said a board of inquiry has been constituted to determine the exact cause of the accident. Officials have not indicated any foul play and have attributed the crash to a technical malfunction.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased personnel.
The crash occurred amid a strike and protest in the region, although authorities clarified that there was no evidence linking the demonstrations to the accident. Witnesses said the helicopter lost altitude moments after take-off before crashing into the hilly terrain near Muzaffarabad.
