A Pakistani Army Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on June 10, killing all onboard due to a technical fault during takeoff, the military said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that there were no survivors and described the personnel as having "embraced martyrdom" [1].
At least 22 military personnel died in the crash, including one colonel, two officers with the rank of major, and 19 soldiers, according to official reports [2, 5]. Some sources reported all onboard were killed but did not specify the number [1, 3, 4]. The crash site is near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where the helicopter went down during a takeoff operation [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Rescue and recovery teams were immediately dispatched to the scene to retrieve bodies and investigate the area [1, 4]. The ISPR said a board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact technical cause of the accident [1, 2, 4, 5]. The Army Aviation wing uses Mi-17 helicopters extensively for transport in northern Pakistan’s high-altitude regions and has a history of occasional fatal accidents in the area [2].
The crash comes amid heightened security and travel restrictions in Muzaffarabad and the wider Pakistan-administered Kashmir region due to recent civil unrest and protests [1, 2, 3]. Authorities have not linked the crash directly to these events.
Funerals for the deceased personnel were held on June 11 in the region, honoring the officers and soldiers killed in the crash [2, 5]. The investigation continues as officials seek to clarify the technical failures that led to the crash.
