Islamabad, Sep 1 (IANS) — A Pakistani Army helicopter crashed in the Diamer district of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan on Monday, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members on board, local officials confirmed.
The helicopter went down in Chilas town while performing a test landing on a newly proposed helipad, according to Abdul Hameed, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Diamer. Rescue teams and local authorities promptly responded to the scene to evacuate the area and extinguish the fire caused by the crash.
The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation, with initial reports suggesting a possible technical failure. Faraq, an information officer, described the incident as “regrettable” and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
Local leader Haji Gulbar Khan confirmed the crash occurred in the Hadar area of Diamer due to a technical fault. He ordered an emergency response at Chilas Hospital and instructed medical personnel to be on immediate standby.
This tragic incident follows a recent helicopter crash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district earlier this month, which claimed the lives of two pilots and three crew members. That helicopter was delivering relief supplies following severe flash flooding in the region.
Additionally, in 2024, a helicopter operated by a petroleum company crashed near the Shewa oil field in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing six people and critically injuring eight others.
