ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military on Monday confirmed that an army helicopter crashed during a routine training flight near Hudor village in Gilgit-Baltistan, killing all five personnel on board.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said the MI-17 helicopter developed a technical fault while on a training mission and went down around 10 am, some 12 kilometers from Thakdas Cantonment. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
According to ISPR, those killed included Pilot-in-Command Major Atif, Co-Pilot Major Faisal, Flight Engineer Naik Subidar Maqbool, and Crew Chiefs Havaldar Jahangir and Naik Amir.
“The crash occurred during a routine training flight, which forms part of Army Aviation’s regular operational preparedness,” the statement said, adding that such missions are essential for maintaining readiness across a range of operations, from combat support to humanitarian and disaster relief.
The military expressed resolve to ensure full preparedness in every domain despite the tragedy.
Monday’s crash is the latest in a series of incidents involving military helicopters in Pakistan’s mountainous northern region, where difficult terrain and challenging weather often complicate aviation operations.
