Army helicopter crashes in Pakistan, killing all on board

A Pakistan Army Mi-17 helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in Azad Kashmir’s capital Muzaffarabad on Wednesday (June 10), killing all on board.
The Pakistan Army’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed the accident in a statement. The ISPR said the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff and none of the passengers survived. According to initial reports, the crash occurred due to a mechanical failure. However, authorities have already formed a high-level investigation committee to find out the exact cause of the crash.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief General Asim Munir expressed deep grief over the tragic accident. They prayed for the eternal peace of the souls of the deceased and expressed their deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
These medium-range Mi-17 military helicopters, usually built with Russian technology, are capable of carrying up to four tons (4,000 kg) of cargo or about 30 military personnel including three crew members. It is worth noting that earlier in September last year (2025), a military helicopter of the same model crashed due to mechanical failure in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, killing five people.