Pakistan Army Mi-17 Helicopter Crashes Near Muzaffarabad! All On Board Martyred: ISPR

MUZAFFARABAD: A Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, after developing a technical fault, the Inter-Services Public Relations said.

According to ISPR, all personnel on board embraced martyrdom in the crash. No survivors were reported.

Rescue and recovery teams reached the crash site soon after the incident and began recovery operations. The military’s media wing said a board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact technical cause of the accident.

The number and identities of the martyred personnel were not immediately disclosed in the initial statement.

Senior civil and military leadership expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir conveyed condolences to the families of the martyrs and paid tribute to their service.

The crash took place near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Initial details released by ISPR described the incident as a technical-fault-related accident during take-off, with no indication of any external cause.

The Mi-17 is a military transport helicopter commonly used for operational, logistical, and support duties. Authorities have not released further technical details about the aircraft’s condition before take-off.

The ordered inquiry is expected to examine the exact sequence of events, the nature of the reported technical fault, maintenance records, and other operational factors linked to the crash.

The tragedy has drawn national grief as tributes poured in for the personnel who embraced martyrdom in the line of duty.