An MI-17 helicopter of the Pakistan Army Aviation corps crash-landed on Monday, resulting in the shahadat of all five crew members on board. According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the incident occurred near Hudor village, approximately 12 kilometers from Thakdas Cantonment in Gilgit-Baltistan. The helicopter was engaged in a routine training mission when it developed a sudden technical fault, leading to the tragic accident.
The military’s media wing identified the martyred personnel as Pilot Major Atif, Co-Pilot Major Faisal, Flight Engineer Naib Subedar Maqbool, and Crew Chiefs Havaldar Jahangir and Naik Amir. The ISPR emphasized that such training flights are essential for maintaining the operational readiness of Army Aviation, which is tasked with a wide range of duties from combat support to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and grief over the incident, extending his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. This crash follows another recent aviation tragedy on August 15, where a KP government helicopter crashed during a flood relief operation in Bajaur, also claiming five lives. That incident was preliminarily attributed to adverse weather conditions and dense fog.
The Pakistan Army, in its statement, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ensuring operational readiness despite the inherent risks involved in training. The nation mourns the loss of its valiant soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
