An Mi-17 helicopter of the Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad on Wednesday shortly during take-off, reportedly due to a technical malfunction. All 21 personnel on board were killed in the accident.

According to initial reports, the helicopter was carrying soldiers of Pakistan’s security forces and was transporting additional troops in the Neelum Valley sector of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The crew reportedly attempted an emergency landing, but the helicopter crashed.

Rescue and recovery teams were immediately dispatched to the crash site and launched operations in the area.

A board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact cause of the crash, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Source: News18