GILGIT-BALTISTAN – September 1, 2025:
A Pakistan Army MI-17 helicopter crashed during a routine training flight in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, leading to the martyrdom of all five personnel on board.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the helicopter was attempting a test landing near Hudor village, Chilas, when it reportedly suffered a technical malfunction and burst into flames. Emergency teams, including Army Quick Response Forces, rushed to the remote crash site, while the Gilgit-Baltistan government declared an emergency at Chilas Hospital.
The fallen heroes have been identified as:
Major Atif – Pilot in Command
Major Faisal – Co-pilot
Naib Subedar Maqbool – Flight Engineer
Havaldar Jahangir – Crew Chief
Naik Amir – Crew Chief
The MI-17 is a medium-lift transport helicopter widely used by the Pakistan Army for logistics, rescue operations, and training missions in mountainous regions. While the platform is known for its ruggedness, this tragic incident underscores the operational challenges of flying in Gilgit-Baltistan’s high-altitude terrain, where unpredictable weather, narrow valleys, and technical stress on aircraft are persistent risks.
An official inquiry has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident.
