A routine operational flight turned into devastating tragedy as Pakistan Army Mi-17 helicopter from 21 Army Aviation Squadron went down in Muzaffarabad region on Wednesday, 10-Jun. The aircraft had taken off from Ghazi Army Aviation Base, reportedly heading for a temporary operational assignment, when it crashed shortly after departure due to a suspected technical fault.
According to military’s media wing, the aircraft had departed from Ghazi Army Aviation Base for a temporary operational assignment toward Rawalpindi before going down due to a suspected technical malfunction shortly after takeoff. A board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the incident, while rescue and recovery teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site.
All individuals on the aircraft were killed in the crash, with no survivors reported. The loss of experienced aviation personnel, particularly senior leadership such as Col. Amjad Latif, has marked this as a significant operational tragedy for Army Aviation.
Authorities have not released the full passenger manifest, and investigations are ongoing to determine the precise technical cause behind the crash.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the crash, paying tribute to those killed. In separate statements, they conveyed sympathies to the victims’ families.
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and extended condolences to the families of those killed, according to the statement.
Kashmir is considered highly sensitive by the Pakistani military and government after years of frequent skirmishes and full-blown wars with India.