Pak helicopter crashes in Gilgit-Baltistan, five killed

A Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army crashed in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region on Wednesday, killing all five persons on board who were returning from a sortie to Gyari sector of Siachen, the army said.

The helicopter of the army's aviation wing was on its way back from the Gyari sector when it caught fire and crashed at the airport in Skardu town, police officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels.

The army confirmed the incident in a brief statement and said five persons on board, including two pilots, were killed.

The statement said the helicopter was on a routine test flight.

It could not immediately be ascertained if the accident had resulted in any damage on the ground.

The army's aviation wing has a base at Skardu, one of the main towns of Gilgit-Baltistsan region.