Five killed as Pak army helicopter crashes

A Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan army on Wednesday crashed in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, killing five persons and injuring three others, a spokesman said.
 
The helicopter of the army's aviation wing was returning from a sortie to Gyari sector of Siachen when it caught fire and crashed at the airport in Skardu town, police officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels.
 
A military spokesman

confirmed the incident and said five persons, including a pilot, were killed.
 
Three other persons, including a pilot, were injured, he said.
 
The spokesman said the helicopter was on a routine test flight.
 
It could not immediately be ascertained if the accident had resulted in any damage on the ground.
 
The army's aviation wing has a base at Skardu, one of the main towns of Gilgit-Baltistsan region.