Pak Army Mi-17 helicopter crashes in PoK during take-off, all aboard killed

A Pakistan Army Mi-17 helicopter crashed shortly after take-off near Muzaffarabad, killing everyone on board. The military has ordered an inquiry into the technical fault as the accident sharpens focus on flight safety.

In Short

• Crash caused by technical fault during take-off, no survivors reported
• Military has ordered inquiry to find exact cause of accident
• Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir expressed grief and condolences

A Pakistan Army Aviation helicopter crashed shortly after take-off near Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, killing everyone on board in one of the country's deadliest military aviation accidents in recent months.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan's military, said the Mi-17 helicopter went down because of a "technical fault" during take-off. There were no survivors.

"All personnel on board embraced martyrdom. There were no survivors," the ISPR said in a statement, according to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.

The crash occurred near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, prompting an immediate rescue and recovery operation.

INQUIRY ORDERED

Military authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the helicopter to crash.

"A board of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact technical cause of the accident," the ISPR said.

Officials have not yet disclosed how many personnel were on board at the time of the crash.

ARMY CHIEF EXPRESSES GRIEF

Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, joined military personnel in expressing condolences following the tragedy.

Field Marshal Munir and all ranks of the Pakistan Army "express deep grief over the tragic loss of precious lives and extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families", the military said.

SERIES OF MILITARY AVIATION ACCIDENTS

The crash is the latest in a string of helicopter accidents involving Pakistani military and government aircraft.

In September 2025, five military personnel were killed when an army helicopter crashed in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer district after what authorities also described as a technical fault.

A month earlier, in August 2025, a rescue helicopter operated by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government crashed in Mohmand district during bad weather, killing two pilots and three crew members.

Wednesday's crash is likely to renew scrutiny of flight safety and maintenance protocols as investigators work to determine what caused the Mi-17 helicopter to go down moments after take-off.

- Ends