Azerbaijani defence minister condoles with Pakistan over deadly helicopter crash

Azerbaijani Defence Minister Col Gen Zakir Hasanov has expressed condolences to Pakistan’s Staff Committee Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Pakistan Navy servicemen as a result of a helicopter crash in Gwadar city of Balochistan province. May Allah rest the souls of the victims, and I express my deep condolences to their families and loved ones,” the ministry said in a message, Caliber.Az reports.

A Pakistani Navy helicopter crashed in a southwestern city on September 4 after suffering a suspected mechanical fault, killing three crew members, the military said.

The helicopter was on a training flight in the port city of Gwadar, in Balochistan Province, a navy spokesman said, a region where Islamabad has been battling a separatist insurgency for decades.

The Sea King aircraft crashed during takeoff at around 10 a.m. local time after suffering an engine fire and losing its rear tail, according to a preliminary report shared with AFP by a military source.