Helicopter crash in northern Pakistan kills five

A helicopter carrying a rescue mission in monsoon-hit northern Pakistan crashed on Friday, killing all five crew members on board, including two pilots, according to multiple Pakistani media outlets, cited by Caliber.Az.

The incident occurred in the Pandiyali area of Mohmand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, due to bad weather, authorities said.

The MI-17 helicopter, operated by the provincial government, was transporting relief supplies to rain-affected areas of Bajaur when contact was lost over Mohmand district.

Officials have dispatched a rescue team to the site, and investigations are ongoing to determine whether the crash was caused solely by adverse weather or other factors.

Heavy monsoon rains have triggered landslides and flash floods across northern Pakistan, claiming at least 164 lives in the past 24 hours. The majority of fatalities, 150, were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert for the northwest, urging residents to avoid unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas.

Monsoon flooding has been a recurring hazard in the country; in 2022, floods submerged a third of Pakistan and killed around 1,700 people.

By Tamilla Hasanova