RAWALPINDI: An MI-17 helicopter of the Pakistan Army crashed near Hudor village, approximately 12 kilometers away from Thakdas Cantonment, on Monday , leaving five personnel, including the pilots and crew, martyred.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), On 1 Sep 25, at around 1000 hours, an MI-17 helicopter crash landed near Hudor village approximately 12 kilometers away from Thakdas Cantonment.

The helicopter was on routine training flying when it developed technical fault and crashed. As a result, all crew members on board embraced shahadat.

Shuhada identified as Major Atif – Pilot in Command, Major Faisal – Co-pilot, Naib Subedar Maqbool – Flight Engineer, Havaldar Jahangir – Crew Chief and Naik Amir – Crew Chief.

The helicopter was engaged in a routine training mission designed to maintain operational readiness of Army Aviation. Such missions are crucial to prepare crews for a wide range of roles, from operational support to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The Pakistan Army reaffirmed its resolve to remain fully prepared across all domains, emphasizing that continuous training is vital for both defense preparedness and emergency response.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the crash of an Army Aviation training helicopter near Thak Das cantonment area in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The president and the prime minister, in their separate statements, prayed for the elevation of ranks of the martyrs Major Atif, Major Faisal, Flight Engineer Maqbool, Havaldar Jahangir, and Naik Ameer in Jannah.

Extending condolences to the families of the martyrs, they prayed for patience and strength for the bereaved families.