Army helicopter crashes in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan, killing five
Officials say a technical fault caused the routine flight to crash and catch fire; investigations are under way
An army helicopter on a routine flight crashed Monday in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region, killing five people on board, regional authorities said.
Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, said two pilots and three technicians were killed when the helicopter apparently suffered a technical fault and went down, then caught fire. He provided no further details and said local authorities and military investigators were examining the wreckage.
The crash occurred in the mountainous north of the country, a region where military and relief flights regularly operate to serve isolated communities. Officials did not immediately release the type of helicopter involved, the unit to which it was assigned or the precise location of the crash site.
Aviation accidents involving military helicopters have occurred repeatedly in Pakistan in recent months and years. Last month, a helicopter carrying relief supplies to flood-hit Bajaur district in northwestern Pakistan crashed in bad weather, killing all five people aboard. In September 2024, six people were killed when a helicopter went down in the northwest amid reports of engine failure.
Authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of Monday's crash, and it is not yet clear whether weather, maintenance issues or other factors played a role. Military aviation investigations in Pakistan typically involve technical teams that inspect wreckage, review maintenance records and interview witnesses.
Local rescue teams were reported to have reached the crash area following the incident, but details on recovery operations and any impact on nearby communities were not immediately available. The military has not issued a public statement beyond confirmation of the crash and the reported fatalities.
The incident is the latest in a series of accidents that have raised concerns about the safety of both military and civilian helicopter operations in Pakistan's rugged northern and northwestern regions. Investigators are expected to release further findings when preliminary reports are completed.