Pakistan army helicopter crashes in Kashmir, all crew killed

A Pakistan army helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on Tuesday, killing all crew members on board, according to the military. The incident occurred during an ongoing protest and strike called by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a recently banned alliance of various groups. However, the military did not suggest any link between the protest and the crash.

Witnesses reported that the helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from a helipad. Ambulances arrived at the scene and transported the victims to a nearby hospital. The military stated that rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site. A board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the accident.

The crash adds to a series of aviation incidents in Pakistan, which has a mixed safety record. The military did not disclose the number of crew members on board or their identities. According to the Associated Press, the helicopter was on a routine mission when it went down.