3 martyred in Gwadar navy copter crash

Two officers, one personnel martyred in accident during training exercise: PN spokesperson

ISLAMABAD:

A Pakistan Navy helicopter crashed in Gwadar on Monday after suffering a suspected mechanical fault, killing three crew members, the military said.

The helicopter was on a training flight in Balochistan’s port city, a navy spokesman said.

The Sea King aircraft crashed during takeoff at around 10:00 am local time (0500 GMT), after suffering an engine fire and losing its rear tail, according to a preliminary report shared with AFP by a military source.

The accident "possibly attributed to a technical malfunction" killed two officers and one enlisted man, the navy spokesman said.

Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar expressed grief over the loss of lives in the helicopter crash, state-run PTV News reported, adding that he prayed for the bereaved.

Separately, President Arif Alvi also mourned the loss of precious lives in the helicopter crash.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Alvi prayed for the departed souls and hailed the services of martyred naval officers to the nation.

صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا گوادر میں ہیلی کاپٹر حادثے میں قیمتی جانی نقصان پر اظہارِ افسوس

صدر مملکت کا ہیلی کاپٹر حادثے میں نیوی کے افسران اور جوان کی شہادت پر گہرے دکھ کا اظہار

صدر مملکت نے شہداء کیلئے بلندی درجات کی دعا کی ، وطن کیلئے خدمات پر خراج عقیدت پیش کیا pic.twitter.com/6sjgjm1WBF

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) September 4, 2023

Last August, a Pakistan Army Aviation helicopter - which was on flood relief operations in Balochistan's Lasbela was reported missing after it lost contact with air traffic control (ATC).

A day later, the military's media wing apprised that the aircraft was discovered in the coastal district of the province, with none of the passengers and crew surviving the crash.

Read: Pakistan, China hold joint air drill

Commander 12 Corps Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Ali, Major General Amjad Hanif, Brigadier Muhammad Khalid, Major Saeed Ahmed, Major M Talha Manan and Naik Mudassar Fayyaz were on board the ill-fated Mi-17 helicopter.

Lt Gen Ali was supervising relief operations in Balochistan, which has been hit hard by flash floods triggered by the heavy monsoon rains in the province.

With additional input from News Desk