At least five crew members died after a Pakistan Army helicopter crashed in Diamer District’s Chilas town in Gilgit-Baltistan region, media reports said.

The helicopter reportedly crashed after developing a 'technical fault'.

“On 1 Sep 25, at around 1000 hours, an MI-17 helicopter crash landed near Hudor village, approximately 12 kilometres away from Thakdas Cantonment,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement as quoted by Dawn News.

ISPR said the helicopter crashed while it was on a routine training flight.

The crew members were identified as Major Atif, who was the pilot in command, Major Faisal, the co-pilot, flight engineer Naib Subedar Maqbool, and crew chiefs Havaldar Jahangir and Naik Amir, ISPR said.

GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, in a statement, said he had issued directions to impose an emergency at Chilas Hospital and ordered the immediate availability of medical staff, reported Dawn News.

He also condoled the deaths in the incident.

“The sacrifice of the martyrs of the helicopter crash is a source of pride for the nation,” he said.