MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan — Recovery teams have retrieved the bodies of all 22 military personnel who perished when their helicopter went down in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday, authorities confirmed Thursday. Officials stated no one survived the crash as senior government and military leaders gathered for a mass funeral service.
The aircraft went down Wednesday in Muzaffarabad, the area’s regional capital, with Pakistan’s military stating the incident appears to have resulted from a technical malfunction. Military officials have launched an investigation to pinpoint the precise cause of the crash.
A reporter with The Associated Press observed 22 flag-draped coffins bearing Pakistan’s colors during the funeral proceedings.
Local witnesses and regional authorities reported that soldiers’ remains were retrieved from severely damaged and burned debris. The casualties included one colonel and two army majors, two security officials confirmed while requesting anonymity since they lacked authorization for public statements.
Regional Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was among the dignitaries who attended the funeral services.
Security officials revealed the military personnel were en route to perform security operations following calls for a demonstration in Muzaffarabad by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a coalition of organizations that has recently been prohibited.
Officials have made no suggestion of any link between the planned demonstration and the aircraft accident.
Pakistan has increased security personnel deployment throughout the area, where unrest has escalated since the weekend following attacks by members of a banned organization against law enforcement and security forces, resulting in four officer deaths.
Aircraft accidents involving military helicopters occur regularly in Pakistan.
This past September, a military helicopter conducting standard operations crashed in Pakistan’s northern region, resulting in the deaths of two pilots and three technical personnel.
