A Pakistan Army helicopter crashed in northern Pakistan on Monday, killing all five soldiers on board, the military said.
The Mi-17 transport helicopter went down near Hudor village, about 12 kilometers from Thakdas Cantonment, during a routine training flight, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing. Officials said the aircraft developed a technical fault before crash-landing.
Those killed included two pilots and three technical crew members. The army identified them as Major Atif (pilot in command), Major Faisal (co-pilot), Naib Subedar Maqbool (flight engineer), Havildar Jahangir (crew chief), and Naik Amir (crew chief).
The military noted that training flights are a regular part of its aviation operations, aimed at ensuring readiness for missions ranging from combat support to humanitarian relief operations.
Earlier in the day, the helicopter had flown Commander Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA), Major General Syed Imtiaz Ali Gillani, to Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts Headquarters in Chilas. After dropping the senior officer, the aircraft was proceeding towards Thor when the crash occurred.
Pakistan’s armed forces operate a fleet of Russian-designed Mi-17 helicopters, widely used for transport and utility missions in both peacetime and conflict zones. Crashes involving military aircraft, while infrequent, have occurred in the past due to technical issues and challenging flying conditions.
