Pakistan helicopter crash kills foreign diplomats

[irfan_pak10]

A very sad occasion
At least seven people including both pilot and the Norwegian and Filipino ambassador killed in the crash in Gilgit-Baltistan region. 

Islamabad, Pakistan - A Pakistani military helicopter carrying foreign diplomats in the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan has crashed, killing at least seven people, the military said.

The dead included two pilots, a crew member, Norwegian Ambassador Leif Larsen, Philippines Ambassador Domingo Lucenario Jr and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors to Pakistan.

The Pakistani Foreign Office released a statement confirming the deaths, also identifying the wife of the Malaysian ambassador as Datin Habibah Mahmud.
Dutch Ambassador Marcel de Vink, Malaysian Ambassador Hasrul Sani Mujtabar and their Polish counterpart Andrzej Ananicz were injured in the crash.
The pilots were identified as Major Altamash and Major Faisal, while the crew member was named Zakir.
In a press conference on Friday evening, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said the crash was due to "engine failure", and ruled out any possibility of the helicopter being shot down.
He also expressed his grief at the accident, and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif and Pakistani Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz both earlier did the same, in statements from their offices.
'Technical fault'
The MI-17 helicopter was carrying 17 people, including 11 foreigners and six Pakistanis, the military's spokesperson Major-General Asim Bajwa said in an earlier statement.
The 10 survivors had "varying degrees of injuries". The injured are being treated at the Combined Military Hospital at Jutial, about 30km away from the area in which the crash occurred.
The aircraft crashed in the Naltar Valley area of Gilgit-Baltistan, about 300km north of the capital Islamabad.
The crash was due to a "technical fault" while the helicopter was landing, Bajwa said.
Gilgit-Baltistan is located in Pakistan's extreme north, and is at the junction of three major mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Karakorum and the Hindu Kush. It is home to more than 100 peaks higher than 7,000 metres. It is also part of the disputed region of Kashmir.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was due to visit Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, which the diplomats were visiting as part of a four-day tour.
Sharif was en route to Gilgit when the crash occurred, and has now cancelled his visit, state media reported.
He expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the crash, according to Radio Pakistan.
The helicopter that crashed was part of a group of three, all of which were carrying foreign diplomats on their tour of the area.

[Salman Anjum]

It was a very sad news for me...

Two ambassadors are among seven people killed when a military helicopter crashed into a school in Pakistan’s mountainous north and burst into flames.

The envoys were part of a large group of foreign dignitaries being ferried to the inauguration of a ski resort chairlift in the town of Naltar on Friday. It was due to be attended by the Pakistani prime minister.
The army said four foreign passengers died, including Domingo D Lucenario, the Philippine ambassador, and the Norwegian envoy Leif H Larsen. The wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian envoys were also killed, along with the helicopter’s two pilots and a crew member.
Many of the other 17 people on board, including the Polish and Dutch ambassadors, were injured and had to be airlifted to a nearby military hospital.

Pak-Army we love you and we all stand  with you...

[CoinFoxs]

A very sad incident in the history of Pakistan 

'Technical fault'
The MI-17 helicopter was carrying 17 people, including 11 foreigners and six Pakistanis, the military's spokesperson Major-General Asim Bajwa said in an earlier statement.
The 10 survivors had "varying degrees of injuries". The injured are being treated at the Combined Military Hospital at Jutial, about 30km away from the area in which the crash occurred.
The aircraft crashed in the Naltar Valley area of Gilgit-Baltistan, about 300km north of the capital Islamabad.
The crash was due to a "technical fault" while the helicopter was landing, Bajwa said.
Gilgit-Baltistan is located in Pakistan's extreme north, and is at the junction of three major mountain ranges: the Himalayas, the Karakorum and the Hindu Kush. It is home to more than 100 peaks higher than 7,000 metres. It is also part of the disputed region of Kashmir.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was due to visit Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, which the diplomats were visiting as part of a four-day tour.
Sharif was en route to Gilgit when the crash occurred, and has now cancelled his visit, state media reported.
He expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the crash, according to Radio Pakistan.

[Chef Ramsay]

I don't know much about choppers but it seems that a technical fault when landing would likely mean that the engines gave out unless the blades clipped something on the way down.

[panju1]

Technical failure? Didn't the Taliban claim responsibility?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11591630/Helicopter-carrying-foreign-diplomats-crashes-in-Pakistan-killing-two-ambassadors.html

Not sure whether to believe the Government version. 

[irfan_pak10]

Technical failure? Didn't the Taliban claim responsibility?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11591630/Helicopter-carrying-foreign-diplomats-crashes-in-Pakistan-killing-two-ambassadors.html

Not sure whether to believe the Government version. 

No its reported that THAT incident is due to Engine failure, Its not a terrorist attack.

[brendanjhwu]

It was a very sad news for me...

Two ambassadors are among seven people killed when a military helicopter crashed into a school in Pakistan’s mountainous north and burst into flames.

The envoys were part of a large group of foreign dignitaries being ferried to the inauguration of a ski resort chairlift in the town of Naltar on Friday. It was due to be attended by the Pakistani prime minister.
The army said four foreign passengers died, including Domingo D Lucenario, the Philippine ambassador, and the Norwegian envoy Leif H Larsen. The wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian envoys were also killed, along with the helicopter’s two pilots and a crew member.
Many of the other 17 people on board, including the Polish and Dutch ambassadors, were injured and had to be airlifted to a nearby military hospital.

Pak-Army we love you and we all stand  with you...

Speak for yourself, It was the "Pak-Army"'s fault in the first place. I don't know why you feel so sorry for them, but not the actual ambassadors??? Are you sure you read the post correctly...?

This comes out a little harsh, but I seriously don't get it.

[GregH37]

Pakistan helicopter crash kills foreign ambassadors

Two ambassadors are among seven people killed when a military helicopter crashed into a school in Pakistan’s mountainous north and burst into flames.

The envoys were part of a large group of foreign dignitaries being ferried to the inauguration of a ski resort chairlift in the town of Naltar on Friday. It was due to be attended by the Pakistani prime minister.
The army said four foreign passengers died, including Domingo D Lucenario, the Philippine ambassador, and the Norwegian envoy Leif H Larsen. The wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian envoys were also killed, along with the helicopter’s two pilots and a crew member.
Many of the other 17 people on board, including the Polish and Dutch ambassadors, were injured and had to be airlifted to a nearby military hospital.

[tensports]

It's so sad incident two helicopter pilot and several countries ambassadors killed including Philippines and Indonesia ambassadors and some ambassadors injures

[GregH37]

It's so sad incident two helicopter pilot and several countries ambassadors killed including Philippines and Indonesia ambassadors and some ambassadors injures

Yeah it was a very sad incident, some army person and ambassadors of other countries are killed in this incident. a very sad demise of foreigner ambassador and army person of Pakistan.

[BillyBones]

It is sad to hear that news, my condolences to the victims family. Hope in future Pakistan would take appropriate measures to avoid such accidents, how come they are so careless about the engine performance while carrying the high rank foreign diplomats.

[Spendulus]

Technical failure? Didn't the Taliban claim responsibility?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11591630/Helicopter-carrying-foreign-diplomats-crashes-in-Pakistan-killing-two-ambassadors.html

Not sure whether to believe the Government version. 

No its reported that THAT incident is due to Engine failure, Its not a terrorist attack.

yeah, that's what they USUALLY do.  Blame it on engine failures.....

[GregH37]

It is sad to hear that news, my condolences to the victims family. Hope in future Pakistan would take appropriate measures to avoid such accidents, how come they are so careless about the engine performance while carrying the high rank foreign diplomats.

I also hoping that Pakistan will overcome these problems like technical faults and safe the life of people whether they are Pakistani or Foreigner. Everyone's Life is important.

[GregH37]

Technical failure? Didn't the Taliban claim responsibility?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11591630/Helicopter-carrying-foreign-diplomats-crashes-in-Pakistan-killing-two-ambassadors.html

Not sure whether to believe the Government version. 

No its reported that THAT incident is due to Engine failure, Its not a terrorist attack.

yeah, that's what they USUALLY do.  Blame it on engine failures.....

@spendulus it was not a terrorist attack, it was just due to engine failure. Those who called this a terrorist attack. They are wrong.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/08/asia/pakistan-chopper-hard-landing/

[CoinFoxs]

Technical failure? Didn't the Taliban claim responsibility?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11591630/Helicopter-carrying-foreign-diplomats-crashes-in-Pakistan-killing-two-ambassadors.html

Not sure whether to believe the Government version.  

No its reported that THAT incident is due to Engine failure, Its not a terrorist attack.

yeah, that's what they USUALLY do.  Blame it on engine failures.....

@spendulus it was not a terrorist attack, it was just due to engine failure. Those who called this a terrorist attack. They are wrong.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/08/asia/pakistan-chopper-hard-landing/

I read the news of Helicopter Crash in Paakistan...It was a technical fault not a terrorist attack..

[bryant.coleman]

@spendulus it was not a terrorist attack, it was just due to engine failure. Those who called this a terrorist attack. They are wrong.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/08/asia/pakistan-chopper-hard-landing/

The Pakistani Army version of the events are not 100% acceptable. They seems to be hiding something. And the most important question is what these ambassadors were doing in Gilgit-Baltistan. The region is one of the constituents of Jammu and Kashmir, the ownership of which is disputed between India, China, and Pakistan.

[GregH37]

@spendulus it was not a terrorist attack, it was just due to engine failure. Those who called this a terrorist attack. They are wrong.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/08/asia/pakistan-chopper-hard-landing/

The Pakistani Army version of the events are not 100% acceptable. They seems to be hiding something. And the most important question is what these ambassadors were doing in Gilgit-Baltistan. The region is one of the constituents of Jammu and Kashmir, the ownership of which is disputed between India, China, and Pakistan.

The diplomats flying in the ill-fated MI-17 on Friday were headed for the inauguration of a ski chairlift, built in the breathtaking resort of Naltar, in northern Pakistan.

[Sithara007]

The diplomats flying in the ill-fated MI-17 on Friday were headed for the inauguration of a ski chairlift, built in the breathtaking resort of Naltar, in northern Pakistan.

Incidents such as this will be interpreted by the Indians as foreign involvement in the disputed territory.

[Spendulus]

Technical failure? Didn't the Taliban claim responsibility?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11591630/Helicopter-carrying-foreign-diplomats-crashes-in-Pakistan-killing-two-ambassadors.html

Not sure whether to believe the Government version. 

No its reported that THAT incident is due to Engine failure, Its not a terrorist attack.

yeah, that's what they USUALLY do.  Blame it on engine failures.....

@spendulus it was not a terrorist attack, it was just due to engine failure. Those who called this a terrorist attack. They are wrong.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/08/asia/pakistan-chopper-hard-landing/

Hey, Greg I think I understand your reasoning now.

If 9/11 happens to the US, oh, it wasn't Muslim terrorists, somehow it was the US Government.

If Helicopter goes down in Pakistan, every word the Pakistan government said is the truth.

Got it!

Thanks.

[GregH37]

Technical failure? Didn't the Taliban claim responsibility?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/11591630/Helicopter-carrying-foreign-diplomats-crashes-in-Pakistan-killing-two-ambassadors.html

Not sure whether to believe the Government version. 

No its reported that THAT incident is due to Engine failure, Its not a terrorist attack.

yeah, that's what they USUALLY do.  Blame it on engine failures.....

@spendulus it was not a terrorist attack, it was just due to engine failure. Those who called this a terrorist attack. They are wrong.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/08/asia/pakistan-chopper-hard-landing/

Hey, Greg I think I understand your reasoning now.

If 9/11 happens to the US, oh, it wasn't Muslim terrorists, somehow it was the US Government.

If Helicopter goes down in Pakistan, every word the Pakistan government said is the truth.

Got it!

Thanks.

Yeah i got your point and this was not a terrorist attack, this was just due to failure of engine or some technical fault..And yes muslims were not behind 9/11.