Pakistan Military Helicopter Crashes Gilgit-Baltistan Killing Five

A Pakistani military helicopter crashed in the Gilgit-Baltistan region during a test landing on a newly proposed helipad, killing five personnel, including two pilots and three technicians. The crash occurred near the Thore area of Chilas in the Diamer district and was reportedly caused by a technical fault, with the helicopter catching fire after going down. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the crash. This incident marks the second recent crash involving a Mi-17 helicopter, following a previous crash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during flood relief operations. Notably, a soldier aboard the recent crash managed to escape by jumping clear of the wreckage. Helicopter crashes are a recurring issue in the region, with several fatal accidents reported in recent months.