Pakistan Army helicopter crashes near Muzaffarabad

RAWALPINDI: All personnel on board a Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter were martyred after the aircraft crashed near Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the military’s media wing, the helicopter developed a technical fault during take-off, resulting in the crash. ISPR said there were no survivors among those on board.

Rescue and recovery teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site following the incident. The military added that a board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact technical cause of the accident.

Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with all ranks of the Pakistan Army, expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the families of the martyrs.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed sorrow over the tragedy in separate statements.

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“The entire nation pays tribute to the great sacrifice of the martyrs and shares the grief of the bereaved families,” President Zardari said while offering condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the personnel martyred in the crash, saying the nation salutes the sacrifices of its brave soldiers. Both leaders prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and for patience and strength for their families.

The incident is the latest in a series of military aviation accidents. In September 2025, five military personnel were martyred when an army helicopter crashed in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan after reportedly suffering a technical fault.