Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
International

Norway, Philippines Envoys Among Seven Dead In Pakistan Chopper Crash

Darpan News Desk IANS, 08 May, 2015 01:28 PM
  • Norway, Philippines Envoys Among Seven Dead In Pakistan Chopper Crash
The ambassadors of the Philippines and Norway were among seven people killed on Friday in a chopper crash in Pakistan's Naltar valley near Gilgit.
 
Even as the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the crash was caused by an attack it carried out, the army said the chopper "developed technical fault" while landing, media reports said. 
 
In an update on Twitter, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa said the dead included four foreigners -- Ambassadors Domingo D. Lucinerio Jr. of the Philippines and Leif Larsen of Norway and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors -- and three Pakistanis -- two pilots and one crew member.
 
He said that according to initial information, two helicopters belonging to the Pakistan Army landed safely "while the third developed technical fault while landing", which caused the accident.
 
He ruled out the possibility of any terrorist or subversive activity, according to Dawn online.
 
The Pakistan Army helicopter crash-landed on a school, the report said, adding that Dutch Ambassador Marcel de Vink and Polish Ambassador Andrzej Ananicz were injured in the incident.
 
Earlier, in a series of tweets, Bajwa said that six Pakistanis and 11 foreigners were on board the MI-17 helicopter.
 
Three helicopters were carrying a delegation of foreign diplomats and their wives and aides to Gilgit-Baltistan, where they were scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. 
 
"It was a diplomatic trip with members of 37 countries in total," said a passenger in one of the helicopters, who requested anonymity, adding that the school caught fire after the chopper crashed on it.
 
Expressing grief over the death of the envoys, Sharif has announced a one-day mourning, Associated Press of Pakistan reported. He was scheduled to visit Gilgit on Friday for the inauguration of two projects.
 
Shortly after the incident, the injured were taken to a military hospital in Gilgit, officials said.
 
A board of inquiry has been constituted to investigate the cause of the crash.

MORE International ARTICLES

Over 50 Killed In Pakistan Shia Mosque Attack

Over 50 Killed In Pakistan Shia Mosque Attack
More than 50 people were killed and around 50 others injured Friday when a suicide bomber ripped through a Shia mosque in Pakistan's Shikarpur district, media reports said.

Over 50 Killed In Pakistan Shia Mosque Attack

Most Americans Know Nothing About Sikhism: Study

Most Americans Know Nothing About Sikhism: Study
Although more than half a million Sikhs live in the US, a majority of Americans are unaware of what Sikhism is and some admit wariness when seeing their Sikh neighbours, according to new study.

Most Americans Know Nothing About Sikhism: Study

Drone Crash At White House, Pilot Quizzed

Drone Crash At White House, Pilot Quizzed
The person operating the drone that crashed on the White House grounds called the US Secret Service to "self-report" their involvement in the incident.

Drone Crash At White House, Pilot Quizzed

Alexis Tsipras Sworn In As Greek Prime Minister

Alexis Tsipras Sworn In As Greek Prime Minister
The leader of the leftist Syriza formation, Alexis Tsipras, took office Monday as Greece's new prime minister after declining to swear the traditional oath before god and vowing to uphold the constitution to President Károlos Papulias.

Alexis Tsipras Sworn In As Greek Prime Minister

Greek F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes In Spain Killing 10 People

Greek F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes In Spain Killing 10 People
At least ten people have died in a fighter jet crash at a military base in Spain, the Defence Ministry said. Military officials said that the Greek F-16 jet crashed into other planes and exploded at the Los Llanos airbase in Albacete in central Spain, BBC reported.

Greek F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes In Spain Killing 10 People

Miss Universe 2015: Colombia's Paulina Vega Wins Crown In Miami

Miss Universe 2015: Colombia's Paulina Vega Wins Crown In Miami
Colombian beauty Paulina Vega Sunday night beat 87 contestants, including India's Noyonita Lodh, to win the Miss Universe 2015 crown here Sunday night.

Miss Universe 2015: Colombia's Paulina Vega Wins Crown In Miami