At least 22 Pakistani military personnel have been killed after an army helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, military officials confirmed on Thursday.
The Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopter went down near Muzaffarabad, the capital of the region, on Wednesday. Witnesses reported seeing thick black smoke rising from the crash site moments after the aircraft went down.
According to Pakistan's military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the helicopter crashed due to a technical malfunction during takeoff. All personnel on board lost their lives.
Security officials said the victims included a colonel, two majors, and 19 soldiers. Funeral prayers were held on Thursday, with the fallen personnel receiving full military honors. Their flag-draped coffins were carried by members of an artillery unit stationed in the region.
The tragedy comes amid heightened tensions in the sensitive border area. Authorities recently imposed strict movement restrictions following violent clashes between security forces and a newly banned alliance of civil society groups. The unrest reportedly left at least 11 people dead over the weekend.
Officials stressed that there was no connection between the recent violence and the helicopter crash.
The ISPR announced that a board of inquiry has been established to determine the exact cause of the accident. Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of military personnel.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also conveyed their condolences to the families of the victims.
Pakistan's military has relied heavily on Mi-17 helicopters for transport and operations in mountainous regions. Although considered reliable workhorses, the aircraft have been involved in several fatal accidents in the country's rugged northern terrain over the years.
An official investigation is now underway to determine the precise technical factors that led to the crash.
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