DEAD BODIES BROUGHT TO CAPITAL AMID TEARS

Copter lost control due to technical fault: Air Chief

Entire nation is deeply grieved: PM, Indonesian, Netherlands ambassadors undergoing treatment at Kharian, Funeral prayers of martyred pilots offered.

Sunday, May 10, 2015 - Islamabad—You are all escorts, escorts of the heart, screamed friends, relatives and family members of victims of MI-17 crash as deceaseds’ dead bodies arrived at Noor Khan air base Saturday morning.

Emotional moments stunned all at Noor Khan airbase as a C-130 aircraft touched down the base bringing back dead bodies of victims of MI-17 helicopter. The mourners, many in tears, paid tribute to the victims.

As the aircraft carrying bodies of two ambassadors, wives of two envoys, two pilots and a crew member landed guard of honour was presented. Dead bodies were brought out in full military honour.

Emotional and heart breaking scenes were witnessed at Noor Khan air base as the bodies arrived. Family and friends broke into tears as they received the bodies. Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif consoled with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.

Funeral prayers of pilots of MI-17 helicopter that crashed in Gilgit’s Naltar valley on Friday, were offered in Rawalpindi. According to a statement issued by ISPR on Saturday, dead bodies of martyred pilots would be handed over to their family members after conducting DNA test.

A spokesperson of Foreign Office confirmed the same to reporters on Saturday.

“ This morning the mortal remains of the Ambassadors of Norway and Philippines and the wives of the Ambassadors of Malaysia and Indonesia were air-lifted from Naltar to Rawalpindi. The injured Ambassadors of Indonesia, the Netherlands, Malaysia and Poland were transported back by special C-310 flight. The rest of the group of diplomats who had gone to Gilgit also returned safely to Rawalpindi this morning,” spokesperson said.

The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary, Mr. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry along with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at Noor Khan Airbase, Chaklala, to receive the dead and injured. The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Acting Chief of Naval Staff and other senior officials were also present.

Mortal remains of the deceased have been placed in the morgue of CMH, Rawalpindi while, the Ambassadors of Indonesia and Netherlands are undergoing treatment at the Special Burns Unit in Kharian. The remaining injured are also under treatment at CMH in Rawalpindi.

Journalists were informed by the Foreign Office that Indonesian officials including a doctor will be arriving Pakistan late at night Saturday to assist in identification process. A Norwegian Forensic team will be arriving Pakistan on Sunday to assist in DNA sampling. They will be working with Pakistani experts at CMH However, Ambassador’s widow changed her plan at eleventh hour. She will not be coming to Pakistan from Oslo. A team from Philippines headed by the Under Secretary of Philippines Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the spouse and son of the late Ambassador would be arriving late at night on Saturday.

Prime minister’s office stated on Saturday that final transportation of the mortal remains to the respective countries of the deceased would be finalized after consultation with the families and officials of the embassies concerned and after completion of all formalities.

Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif spoke to his Norwegian Counterpart Ms. Erna Solberg Friday night and offered his deep condolences on the death of Ambassador Leif H Larson, who died in the tragic helicopter accident near Naltar.“ Entire Pakistani nation is deeply grieved and saddened at this most unfortunate accident. Please convey my condolences to the bereaved,” a press note issued from Prime Minister’s office quoted him as saying.

The Prime Minister said that Ambassador Larsen was an excellent diplomat and a fine human being. He worked with distinction and dedication for the promotion of Pakistan’s relations with Norway. He will be sadly missed.

The Prime Minister assured his Norwegian counterpart that Pakistan will be sending the mortal remains of the late ambassador to Norway at the earliest. A federal minister would accompany the coffin.

Norwegian Prime Minister thanked Nawaz Sharif for his timely efforts and also for the decision of observing a day of mourning.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also telephoned his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak and condoled the death of Malaysian Ambassador’s wife in the Naltar helicopter crash.

The Prime Minister conveyed to the Malaysian Prime Minister that the accident occurred during the routine trip organized by Pakistan to the picturesque Naltar valley.

The Prime Minister also conveyed that he himself was on his way to Naltar to have lunch with the envoys when he received this tragic news. The technical failure in one of the four helicopters resulted in the loss of seven precious lives including, unfortunately, Madame Habibah binti Mahmud.

Madam Habibah was a fine human being. She was an ardent promoter of strong bonds of friendship between Pakistan and Malaysia. She was very popular in social and ladies diplomatic circle in Islamabad. She will be greatly missed.

The Prime Minister further stated that the Government will be sending mortal remains of Madame Habibah to Kualala Lumpur at the earliest possible. To pay respect to Madame Habibah and keeping in view our close friendly and brotherly relations, one of the federal ministers would accompany the dead body of Madame Habibah.

INP adds: Funeral prayers of two pilots and a crew member martyred in Naltar helicopter crash was offered at Chaklala Airbase on Saturday. Smartly turned out contingents of three armed forces presented guard of honour to the martyrs. 

Chiefs of three Armed forces including Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Air Chief Sohail Aman, Naval Chief, Admiral Zakaullah, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Rashad Mahmood, high officials of armed forces and civilian leadership attended the funeral prayers of martyred pilots Major Altamash, Major Faisal and Technician, Naib Subedar Zakir. Special Advisor to PM, Tariq Fatimi and Secretary Foreign Affairs, Aizaz Chaudhry was also present on the occasion. Smartly turned out contingent of three armed forces of the country present guard of honour to the martyred soldiers. Major Altamash, Major Faisal and Naib Subedar Zakir were martyred when a helicopter of Pakistan Army crashed in Naltar area of Gilgit.



Copter lost control due to technical fault: Air Chief


Islamabad—Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman on Saturday said the helicopter which crashed in Naltar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan had lost control due to mechanical fault moments before landing.

The Air chief speaking to state television said the helicopters behaviour was normal just prior to landing and it suddenly lost control. “Our base commander had eye contact with the helicopter and there was no problem in its behaviour. The helicopter lost control just moments before landing.”

According to Air Chief Marshall Sohail Aman an investigation had started and there would be a detailed analysis of the crash. 

The Air chief further said that unfortunate accidents like this did take place as he praised the solidarity shown by the international community in the wake of this tragedy. Shedding light on the horrific outcomes of such crashes, the Air chief said it was by the grace of Allah that there were survivours.

Air Chief Marshall Aman added that the pilots flying the helicopter were ‘proficient and excellent’ and had made several flights in this area. On May 08, seven people including foreign diplomats were killed when a MI-17 crashed in the Naltar Valley. The Norwegian and Philippine ambassadors were among those who lost their lives as were the spouses of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors.

Two major’s of the Pakistan Army flying the helicopter and a Subedar were also martyred in the horrific crash.