A Pakistan Army rescue helicopter delivering relief goods to flood-affected areas in Bajaur crashed in the Mohmand district on Friday, killing all five personnel on board, according to the initial report from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
Flight lost contact before crash
Officials said the helicopter took off at 10:30am for Bajaur but lost contact around noon. Search operations began immediately, and the wreckage of the rescue helicopter was discovered at 4pm in Mohmand.
Senior officers among the martyrs
Authorities confirmed that the victims included Group Captain (r) Aftab Iqbal, Lieutenant Colonel Shahid Sultan (pilot), Captain Saleem Iqbal, retired flight engineer Muhammad Jabbar, and retired technician Mukhtiar Ali. The bodies were shifted to Peshawar.
Floods worsen crisis in KP
The tragedy occurred as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faced heavy rains, cloudbursts, and severe flooding. Provincial officials reported that over 200 people have died in weather-related incidents in recent days, while hundreds were injured and thousands displaced. Widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and farmland has added to the suffering of communities.
Government reaction
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur confirmed the loss of the crew, calling their sacrifice an act of bravery in the service of humanity. He said the rescue helicopter team gave their lives while delivering aid to vulnerable communities.
The provincial government announced a day of mourning, with the national flag to be flown at half-mast across the province on Saturday.
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