Pak Army helicopter crashes, 5 killed

A Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army on Wednesday crashed in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, killing five persons and injuring three others, a spokesman said.

The helicopter of the Army's aviation wing was returning from a sortie to Gyari sector of Siachen when it caught fire and crashed at the airport in Skardu town, police officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels.


A military spokesman confirmed the incident and said five persons, including a pilot, were killed.

Three other persons, including a pilot, were injured, he said.

The spokesman said the helicopter was on a routine test flight.

It could not immediately be ascertained if the accident had resulted in any damage on the ground.

The Army's aviation wing has a base at Skardu, one of the main towns of Gilgit-Baltistsan region.