UN chief expresses grief over martyrdom of six Pakistani peacekeepers

An investigation into the helicopter crash is now underway, says Antonio Guterres

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday expressed sadness over the death of eight peacekeepers including six Pakistan Army officers, who were on board a helicopter that crashed yesterday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"An investigation into the crash is now underway. I wish to express my sincere condolences to their families and loved ones," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

I’m deeply saddened by the death of 8 UN peacekeepers who were on board a helicopter that crashed yesterday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An investigation into the crash is now underway.

I wish to express my sincere condolences to their families & loved ones.

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 30, 2022

A statement issued by the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday, said that the exact cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained.

Read more: Six Pakistani officers, soldiers among UN peacekeepers martyred in copter crash

The ISPR identified the martyred official as Lt Col Asif Ali Awan, (pilot), Maj Saad Nomani (co-pilot), Maj Faizan Ali, ​​N/sub Sami Ullah Khan (flight engineer), Havaldar Muhammad Ismail (crew chief) and L/Hav Muhamad Jamil (Gunner).

The UN Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) said in a tweet that it had "lost contact" with one of its helicopters which was on a reconnaissance mission in the region.

"The causes of this disappearance are not yet known. Research is ongoing," the mission had said.