A Pakistan Army helicopter crashed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, killing all five personnel on board.
Authorities said the MI-17 aircraft was conducting a test landing on a proposed helipad near Chilas when it developed a technical fault, caught fire, and went down.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) identified the victims as Major Atif (pilot-in-command), Major Faisal (assistant pilot), Naib Subedar Maqbool, Havaldar Jahangir, and Naik Amir.
Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed the crash, while Diamer Senior Superintendent of Police Abdul Hameed said rescue teams, including police and emergency workers, quickly reached the site to recover the bodies.
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An investigation into the cause of the crash has been opened.
The incident adds to a troubling record of military helicopter accidents in Pakistan’s mountainous regions.
Just last month, on August 14, 2025, another MI-17 helicopter dispatched for flood relief operations in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, crashed due to bad weather, killing five personnel.
Pakistan’s rugged terrain and unpredictable weather have contributed to several fatal crashes involving military aircraft over the years, sparking calls for fleet upgrades and improved safety protocols.