Government Helicopter Crash Kills Five in Pakistan
A government helicopter on a relief mission crashed in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, August 15, killing all five crew members on board.
The MI-17 helicopter, operated by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, was carrying relief supplies for flood-affected areas of Bajaur district when it went down in the Pandiyali area of Mohmand district. According to provincial chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the crash was caused by severe weather conditions.
The five crew members killed in the crash included two pilots and three other individuals involved in the relief operations. Rescue teams were dispatched to the crash site, and the bodies have since been recovered. The provincial government declared a day of mourning to honor the crew, who are being hailed as "martyrs" for sacrificing their lives to help others. The crash occurred as the province continues to grapple with devastating flash floods and landslides triggered by relentless monsoon rains.
