Thread by @KiyyaBaloch

Reports say a Pakistan army Helicopter carrying commander XII Corps crashed at 45 degree west from Karachi at Sassi Punnoo in Lasbela district, #Balochistan.

Commander 12 along with six other was onboard. ISPR hasn’t confirmed the reports of crash yet.

#PakistanArmy

Those onboard included
Maj Saeed (Pilot)
Maj Talha (Cov Pilot)
Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali CC 12 Corps
Director General Pakistan Coast Guard
CC Engr 12 Corps Nk Mudasir (Heli Crew), however, ISPR hasn’t revealed the identities of the officers yet. Search ops is underway in #Lasbela

Sources from Balochistan’s Hub locality say search & rescue teams are facing difficulties in reaching Sassi and Punnu located near #Lasbela, Balochistan, 45 miles west of Karachi. Recent flood has damaged roads & bridges in the area. Poor infrastructure may hamper the search.

A local journalist from #Lasbela said helicopter wreckage has been found. All six aboard are dead.

#Lasbela

Corps Commander XII Lt Gen Sarfaraz Ali has held important positions during his military career. He was Inspector General Frontier Corps South Balochistan until Nov 2020 b4 being promoted. He served as DG MI, Commander 111 brigade & Defense Attaché of Pak embassy in the USA.

An official of #Lasbela district administration says search for helicopter wreckage is continuing but rescue efforts are hampered due to lack of connectivity. He said reports of helicopter wreckage being found emerged from Karachi, which district admin has no knowledge about.

The official added that the location has been identified where the helicopter has likely crashed trying to do an “emergency landing”. Situation still remains unclear. As per the official crash could be result of a technical fault not due to weather which he called a “fine Y’day”.

According to official, the area where helicopter had likely crashed is a “tough mountainous terrain.”

“Volunteers and police teams have resumed the search on foot by dawn” he said.

“Due to lack of connectivity search teams are facing difficulties.”

#Lasbela #helicopter

An air operation has been launched in Lasbela’s Dureji area to locate a missing #helicopter carrying high ranked military officers, including Corps Commander XII Lt General Sarfaraz Ali.

The Pakistan Army Aviation chopper lost contact with air traffic control yesterday evening.

Almost 10 hours later, still the search to find an army chopper carrying high ranked military officers continues in #Lasbela. Frontier Corps, police and local volunteers are part of the search. Air ops has also been launched to find the #helicopter.

#MissingHelicopter

Perviz Umrani, Deputy Inspector General of Police Khuzdar region confirmed that the wreckage of Corps Commander's helicopter has been found.

He said wreckage of the helicopter was found near Sassi Punnu shrine in #Lasbela district after more than 10 hours continued search.

“Today at about 12:25 PM, #Lasbela police recovered the Crashed Heli at Haji Moosa Goth [nearest popular location Sassi & Punnu Shrine] on the top of a mountain, 7/8 KM away from Abbas Police Post UC Sakran. 2 bodies were recovered.The heli is completely destroyed,” SSP Police.

All six dead bodies from a helicopter crash have been found, said police officials from #Lasbela.

The cause of the crash, which occurred on the top of a mountain in challenging terrain, remains unclear. #HelicopterCrash

The media wing of Pakistan's army @OfficialDGISPR said the initial investigation had revealed that the accident occurred due to bad weather.

#Lasbella #helicopter #HelicopterCrash