At least five people were killed on Monday when an army aviation helicopter crashed in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, according to a government spokesperson. All five crew members on board, including two pilots and three technical staff, lost their lives in the crash, says Faizullah Firaq, spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government
The helicopter was being used by the regional government for relief and rescue operations following recent rains and floods. Firaq said the aircraft went down while conducting a test landing on a newly proposed helipad.
Rescue teams quickly reached the site and launched operations. The cause of the crash has not yet been officially determined, though initial reports suggest a “technical failure” may have been responsible.
