A Pakistani Army helicopter has crashed near Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir following what authorities described as a technical fault, with the military confirming that all onboard personnel were killed.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the military said the Mi-17 helicopter went down during take-off near the city, a region long regarded as highly sensitive due to decades of conflict between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory.
“A Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad today during take-off due to a technical fault,” the military’s media wing said.
It added that all personnel onboard died in what it described as “Shahadat (martyrdom),” without disclosing the exact number of occupants on the aircraft.
The crash has drawn attention to ongoing operational risks faced by military aviation units in the region, which remains heavily militarised amid persistent tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India.
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Kashmir has remained a flashpoint for decades, with both countries claiming the region in full while administering separate portions since their independence from British rule in 1947. The disputed territory has witnessed multiple wars, frequent border skirmishes, and continued military presence on both sides of the Line of Control.
In recent days, Muzaffarabad has also seen heightened security activity, following tensions linked to planned protests by a local movement that had been banned under anti-terrorism legislation. Authorities had increased deployment in the area ahead of anticipated demonstrations.
While the military did not link the crash to any external factors, investigations are expected to focus on the reported technical malfunction that led to the fatal incident.
The tragedy adds to a series of aviation accidents involving military aircraft in difficult terrain, where weather conditions and mechanical issues have previously contributed to operational losses.