Pakistani Army Helicopter Crashes in Kashmir, All on Board Killed

A Pakistani army MI-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday after a technical fault, killing everyone on board. The military said the crash occurred shortly after takeoff from a helipad. Rescue teams reached the site and transported the victims to a nearby hospital.

The military did not immediately disclose how many people were aboard. Witnesses reported seeing smoke billowing from the wreckage. Ambulances arrived quickly and carried the victims away. The military stated that a board of inquiry had been ordered to determine the exact cause.

The crash took place during an ongoing protest and strike called by the Joint Awami Action Committee. The military did not suggest any link between the protest and the crash. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the crash and paid tribute to those killed.

" — Pakistani military statement, June 10, 2026 (New York Post) Field Marshal Asim Munir also expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of those killed.

said the helicopter was carrying an unspecified number of paramilitary Rangers deployed for security duties. Tensions in the region have been high since the weekend, when members of an outlawed group attacked police and security forces, killing four personnel.

Such crashes are not uncommon in Pakistan. In September, an army helicopter on a routine flight crashed in northern Pakistan, killing two pilots and three technicians.