At least six individuals lost their lives in a helicopter crash in northern Pakistan on Saturday, according to security sources. The chartered helicopter, operated by a private company, went down shortly after taking off from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, specifically in the troubled North Waziristan area near the Afghan border.
The helicopter was carrying around 14 passengers, which included Russian pilots. Sources indicated that eight others sustained injuries in the incident and have been hospitalized for treatment.
The region has a history of aviation accidents involving both military and civilian aircraft. Notably, in 2022, a military helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. Additionally, a Pakistan International Airlines Airbus crashed into a densely populated neighborhood in Karachi in 2020, claiming the lives of most of the 99 passengers on board.