Pakistani Military Helicopter Crash Kills 22 in Kashmir
A Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday, killing all 22 military personnel on board, according to the Pakistani military.
The aircraft went down during takeoff due to a technical fault, the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement. No survivors were reported.
“The board of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact technical cause of the accident,” the ISPR added.
Casualties Confirmed
Security sources confirmed to multiple news agencies that the victims included one colonel, two majors, and 19 soldiers. The remains of all personnel were recovered from the crash site on Thursday, with officials stating the victims’ identities had been established.
The Pakistani military conducted burial ceremonies for the victims on Thursday, with flag-draped coffins carried by an artillery unit stationed in Kashmir. Senior government and military officials attended the mass funeral in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the crash, extending condolences to the families of those killed. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir also conveyed his sorrow at the loss of life, according to military statements.
Circumstances of the Crash
The crash occurred during a period of heightened security in the region. The helicopter had been transporting personnel assigned to security duties following a call for a march on Muzaffarabad by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a recently banned alliance of various groups, according to officials.
Authorities imposed strict movement restrictions in the area after violent clashes between security forces and members of the outlawed group left at least 11 people dead over the previous weekend.
The military stated it had found no connection between the local unrest and the aviation incident. Videos circulating on social media showed thick plumes of black smoke rising from behind buildings immediately following the crash. Rescue and recovery teams reached the site shortly after the incident occurred.
Aviation Safety Concerns
The Mi-17 is a Soviet-designed transport helicopter widely operated by Pakistan’s military for high-altitude deployments in the country’s rugged northern terrain.
While such crashes are not uncommon in Pakistan, officials noted improvements in maintenance and training protocols in recent years. In September 2025, an army helicopter on a routine flight crashed in northern Pakistan, killing five personnel.
VGMG