ISLAMABAD: At least six people including ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines were killed and 11 others injured after a helicopter with 17 people aboard crash-landed in Pakistan's northern Gilgit region on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Among them was the wife of the Malaysian Ambassador whom Bernamadotcom identified as Datin Habibah Mahmud.
Norwegian envoy Leif H. Larsen and Philippines ambassador Domingo D. Lucenario Jr were also said to be on the flight along with two pilots.
Polish ambassador Andrzej Ananiczolish and Dutch ambassador Marcel de Vink were also injured, the army said.
AFP reported a convoy of three helicopters was carrying a delegation of foreign diplomats and their aides to Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan territory, which is part of the disputed Kashmir region, where they were set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Director general of Inter-Services Public Relations, Major General Asim Saeed Bajwa, said on his Twitter account that the envoys of Poland and Netherlands were also injured in the crash.
Bajwa tweeted: "Two pilots, four foreigners' fatalities. (Ambassador Philippine, Norway, wives of Malaysian and Indonesian High Commissioner and ambassador). Injured Polish and Dutch ambassadors."
Dawn TV said the chopper was set to land in a school but met an accident at about 11:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT). It caught fire and resulted in the deaths.
The cause of the accident is unknown.
However, local media reported the helicopter hit the school wall while landing.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was scheduled to visit Gilgit on Friday for an inauguration of two projects and the people aboard the helicopter were due to attend the event.
No loss of life was reported on the ground.
http://www.kinabalutoday.com/index.php/component/content/article/22-nation/7526-malaysian-ambassador-s-wife-among-six-killed-in-pakistan-s-chopper-crash
