<em><strong>Polish, Dutch, Romanian, Lebanese envoys, Malaysia & Indonesia HCs, wife of Polish envoy among injured.</strong></em> RAWALPINDI: The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed on Friday that Ambassadors of Philippines , H.E. Domingo D. Lucenario Jr and Norway H.E. Leif Larsen were among at least seven people killed when a MI-17 helicopter crashed in Naltar Valley, Gilgit. DG ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted that the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian Ambassadors were also killed in the crash along with a local staff member. Two pilots and a chief engineer were martyred. The pilots were identified as Major Altamish and Major Faisal. The injured include the Polish, Dutch, Romanian, Lebanese Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Malaysia and Indonesia. The wife of the Polish Ambassador is also injured. The foreign diplomats were scheduled to attend the inauguration of a chairlift project for tourists in Gilgit. According to the ISPR one MI-17 out of three carrying visitors had crash landed in Naltar Valley. There were 11 foreigners and six Pakistani passengers on board. Security sources said initial investigations had revealed that the crash was caused by a failure in the tail rotor of the helicopter. The helicopter lost control and the hit the roof of a local school in the area. Following the crash the helicopter caught fire. A statement by PM House said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s trip to Naltar Valley has been cancelled after the Gilgit accident. The statement went on to say that his plane was turned back without landing. The PM has expressed his condolence over the loss of lives in the accident and has directed for immediate medical services to the injured. The Ministry of Defence in a statement said the reason for the crash was being investigated. As per procedure, a board of inquiry has been constituted to investigate the cause of the crash. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office in Islamabad has informed the respective governments about the tragic incident. INP
