Pakistan Army helicopter crashes in Kashmir, no survivors reported

A Pakistan Army helicopter has crashed near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday, killing everyone on board, military authorities have confirmed.

According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the Mi-17 helicopter went down shortly after take-off following a technical malfunction.

“An Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad today during take-off due to a technical fault,” the statement said.

The military further stated that all occupants of the aircraft lost their lives in the crash.

“All personnel on board embraced Shahadat (martyrdom),” it added, without disclosing the number of casualties.

The incident occurred in the strategically sensitive Kashmir region, where security remains a major concern due to the longstanding territorial dispute between Pakistan and India. The region has witnessed decades of tension, including periodic military confrontations and wars between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The crash comes amid heightened security in Muzaffarabad, where authorities have increased their presence following plans by members of a protest movement to stage demonstrations despite a government ban imposed under anti-terrorism legislation.

Kashmir, a Muslim-majority territory, is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan but has remained divided between the two countries since they gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947.