Four personnel died after a helicopter crashed in Pakistan’s Diamer District’s Chilas town on Monday, according to officials. The helicopter carried a crew of five, but one soldier survived after escaping by jumping clear.
The air vehicle reportedly belonged to the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government. The incident happened at 10am (GMT +5) near Hudur village, in Gilgit.
A spokesperson for the GB government, Faizullah Faraq, stated, “One of our helicopters has crashed in Thor, Chilas.”
Diamer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abdul Hameed initially reported five casualties had occurred in the crash. Two pilots and three technical staff were on board the aircraft, reports agencies. He confirmed Pakistan army owned the helicopter.
A landing test on a recently proposed helipad was being conducted when the accident occurred, he ad. Local authorities and rescue teams reached the site of the crash to start evacuation.
The reason behind the crash is yet to be determined though a spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government alluded to “technical failure.”
