“Two army aviation pilots embraced martyrdom when their helicopter crashed during a night flying training mission due to a technical fault at Multan tonight,” the military said in a statement.
The ISPR identified the deceased pilots as Major Yasir and Captain Murtaza.
A senior military official told an international news agency that a dust storm that hit the aviation base as the helicopter was taking off could have been a factor in the crash.
The official and the statement did not give the type of helicopter, but army has Russian and American helicopters in its fleet.
The accident comes as the Pakistani military carries out a major offensive in the dangerous tribal district of North Waziristan along the Afghan border, where Tehreek-i-Taliban Taliban (TTP) and al Qaeda-linked militants have taken refuge.
Major Muhammad Yasir S/O Mr Muhammad Nasir from Mohalla Gullab Wala Jhang City , got admission in Chenab College Jhang on 21.4.1994 in class 6 and left Chenab College Jhang in 2001 after passing his FSc (Pre Engineering). He embraced shahadat on Wednesday night during a routine mission in Cobra Helicopter at Multan. May his soul rest in peace in Jannat-ul-Firdos. He was son of the soul. We are proud of him.
