Two Pakistan Army majors among six martyred in Balochistan helicopter crash

• Chopper crashes near Harnai district's Khost city.
• Helicopter crash claims lives of six Pakistan Army officials.
• Two majors, two sepoys, one subedar, one naik martyred.

RAWALPINDI: Two Pakistan Army majors were among six military personnel who were martyred when a helicopter crash occurred in Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Monday.

The unfortunate incident occurred during a flying mission near Harnai district's Khost city late last night, the military's media wing mentioned in its statement.

The press statement read that among the six personnel were two pilots as well who lost their lives.

Major Khurram Shahzad, 39, was a resident of Attock who has left behind a wife and daughter. Major Muhammad Muneeb Afzal, 30, was a resident of Rawalpindi and is survived by a wife and two sons.

Subedar Abdul Wahid, 44. hailed from Karak's Sabir Abad village and has left behind a wife and four children, while sepoy Muhammad Imran, 27, was a resident of Khanewal's Makhdoompur and is survived by a wife and three children.

Naik Jalil, 30, was a resident of Gujarat's village Bhutta. He left behind a wife and two children. Sepoy Shoaib, 35, was a resident of Attock's Khatarphatti village. He is survived by a wife and child.

In August, a Pakistan Army helicopter — that had gone missing for a day — had also crashed, leaving the same number of military personnel martyred.

The chopper was found in Musa Goth, Windar, Lasbela.

It had gone missing en route to Karachi from Quetta at around 5:30pm. The personnel in the chopper were overseeing flood relief efforts in the southwest of the country.

The ISPR, in a statement, said the accident occurred due to "bad weather" as per an initial investigation.

'Entire nation saddened'

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the "entire nation was saddened" to hear the news about the chopper crash as he prayed for the forgiveness of the martyred.

"I am deeply upset," the prime minister said in a tweet.

PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said helicopter flying was getting dangerous and warranted engineering evaluation.

"Too many crashes …RIP Braveheart’s all were too young to die," he lamented.

Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman expressed her deepest condolences to the heroes who lost their lives in the chopper crash.

"Prayers and duas for the families," she added.