MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) – Rescuers have recovered the remains of all 22 soldiers who were aboard a military helicopter that tragically crashed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday. Officials confirmed on Thursday that there were no survivors, as senior government and military dignitaries gathered for a mass funeral to honor the victims.
The helicopter went down in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, on June 10, 2026, apparently due to a technical fault, as reported by Pakistan’s military. An investigation is currently underway to determine the precise cause of the crash. An Associated Press reporter observed 22 coffins draped in the national flag during the solemn funeral ceremony.
Eyewitnesses and local officials indicated that the remains of the soldiers were recovered from the severely burned wreckage. Among the deceased were a colonel and two army majors, according to security officials who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The soldiers were reportedly en route to carry out security duties following a call for a protest march on Muzaffarabad by the Joint Awami Action Committee, an alliance of various groups that was recently banned.
Authorities have yet to establish any connection between the planned protest and the helicopter crash. However, tensions have escalated across the region since the previous weekend, especially after members of a banned group attacked police and security forces, resulting in the deaths of four officers. Consequently, Pakistan has deployed additional security forces to the area.
Military helicopter crashes are not uncommon in Pakistan, with another incident occurring in September when an army helicopter crashed during a routine flight in northern Pakistan, killing two pilots and three technicians. As the investigation into this latest crash continues, the grief-stricken families of the soldiers and the nation as a whole are mourning the loss of those who dedicated their lives to serving their country.
Among those present at the funerals was the regional Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, reflecting the magnitude of the tragedy affecting the military and the nation. The deaths of 22 soldiers in a single event underline the risks and challenges faced by military personnel in the region.
The impact of this disaster is profound, not only for the families of the soldiers but also for the community at large, as they come to terms with the loss and the potential implications for security in the region moving forward.
