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.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 30, 2022
I wish to express my sincere condolences to their families & loved ones.
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.
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