Army helicopter crashes in Pakistan killing all on board shortly after take-off as black smoke rises into sky

A MILITARY helicopter has crashed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing everyone on board in a horror incident blamed on a technical fault.

The Pakistani army confirmed the deadly smash on Wednesday but has yet to reveal how many personnel were inside the doomed MI-17 aircraft.

The chopper went down near Muzaffarabad, the region’s capital, sparking panic as it plunged shortly after take-off from a nearby helipad.

Terrified witnesses said the aircraft struggled moments after lifting into the air before crashing, sending emergency crews racing to the scene.

Ambulances quickly arrived and rushed victims to a nearby hospital, but all those onboard were declared dead.

The tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing protests and a strike organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee – a recently banned alliance of groups.

However, military officials were quick to stress there is no indication the unrest is linked to the fatal crash.

“Rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site,” the military said, confirming a full investigation is now underway to uncover exactly what went wrong.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led tributes to those killed, expressing their “deep sorrow” and offering heartfelt condolences to grieving families.

Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir also paid tribute to the fallen personnel, describing the loss as a devastating blow and extending sympathies to their loved ones.

The tragedy is the latest in a string of deadly military aviation disasters in the country.

In September 2025, another army helicopter plunged to the ground during a routine mission in northern Pakistan, killing two pilots and three technicians onboard.

Crashes involving military aircraft are not uncommon in Pakistan, often blamed on technical faults and challenging flying conditions.

It comes after a helicopter plunged into a dense jungle just minutes after take-off killing eight people on board on Borneo, Malaysia.

The aircraft vanished from the radar five minutes into its journey over Borneo’s vast palm oil plantations on Thursday.

It had departed from Melawi district in West Kalimantan province and was heading for another remote plantation in Kubu Raya when disaster struck.

Search teams later made the grim discovery deep in thick forest in Sekadau district, where the wreckage was found smashed among the trees.

All eight victims – including two crew members and six passengers – were recovered from the crash site, officials from the National Search and Rescue Agency and the Transportation Ministry confirmed.

Among the dead was a Malaysian national.

The Airbus H130 was being operated by its owner PT Matthew Air Nusantara. 

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