Islamabad: A Cobra helicopter gunship of
Pakistani army crashed while targeting militant hideouts in
the restive Khyber tribal region bordering Afghanistan on Wednesday,
killing its two-member crew.
The helicopter came down in Tirah valley of Khyber due to
a technical problem, officials were quoted as saying by the TV
news channels.
The pilot and the gunner were both killed, they said.
The Inter-Services Public Relations confirmed that the
helicopter gunship had crashed and said further details were
being ascertained.
Troops surrounded the area and retrieved the bodies of
the two crew members. The bodies were later airlifted to
Peshawar by a helicopter.
Clashes were also continuing between security forces and
militants in Bara area of Tirah valley.
Following the crash, two more helicopter gunships pounded
militants hideouts and killed several rebels.
TV news channels said there were reports that the
helicopter gunship had crashed after being fired at by
militants.
There was no official word on this development.
The Pakistan Army has made extensive use of helicopter
gunship and fighter jets in its campaign against militant
groups in the lawless tribal belt.
PTI
