Pakistan army helicopter crashes in Kashmir due to technical fault, killing all on board
A Pakistani army Mi-17 helicopter crashed in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir due to a technical fault, and all crew members were killed.
Crash near Muzaffarabad
On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, a Pakistani army Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. According to a statement from the military's media wing, the crash occurred during takeoff due to a technical fault. All personnel on board, whose number was not specified, were killed—the military described their deaths as "martyrdom."
Protests and investigation
The accident took place amid ongoing protests and a strike called by the recently banned Joint Awami Action Committee. The military did not suggest any link between the protests and the crash. Witnesses reported that the helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from a helipad. Emergency services arrived at the scene and transported victims to a nearby hospital. The military stated that a board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Political reaction
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the crash and paid tribute to the victims. Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir also expressed deep condolences. Kashmir is a highly sensitive region, a flashpoint between India and Pakistan since their independence. The region is divided but both countries claim full control.
