Tragedy Strikes in Gilgit Baltistan Military Helicopter Crash Claims Five Lives

A Pakistan Army helicopter went down in Chilas, a town in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, resulting in the tragic loss of five people on Monday.

Officials confirmed that the aircraft crashed while conducting a test landing at a new helipad. Following the accident, police and emergency crews quickly arrived on the scene to start rescue and recovery efforts.

While a full investigation is still pending, the Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson, Faizullah Faraq, stated that a technical malfunction appears to be the cause. He expressed deep regret over the incident, noting that the helicopter had also been used for relief missions in the past.

Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Minister, Haji Gulbar Khan, also acknowledged the technical failure and immediately put Chilas Hospital on high alert, ensuring medical staff were prepared. He shared his condolences with the victims’ families and honored the soldiers, calling their sacrifice a source of national pride.

This devastating event is the second of its kind in recent weeks. A rescue helicopter crashed in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during flood relief work just a few weeks ago, killing five people, including two pilots. A separate crash last year also claimed six lives and injured eight others when a private petroleum company’s helicopter crashed near the Shewa oil field in North Waziristan.