Pakistan Army helicopter crashes near Muzaffarabad during take-off

An Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off on Tuesday due to a technical fault, the military's media wing said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), all personnel on board were martyred in the crash and there were no survivors.

The ISPR said rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site following the accident.

A board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact technical cause of the crash.

The military's media wing said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir and all ranks of the Pakistan Army expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.