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Foreign diplomats killed in Pakistan crash

May 8, 2015

The ambassadors of Norway and Philippines have been reportedly killed in a helicopter crash in Pakistan, according to the military. The wives of diplomats from Malaysia and Indonesia also died in the accident.

https://p.dw.com/p/1FMh7
Pakistan MI-17 Hubschrauber
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Qureshi

A Pakistani army helicopter with 11 foreigners and six Pakistanis on board crashed into a school in the north of the country, the army reported Friday.

Initial reports said that both pilots and at least six foreign passengers were killed, the military added.

The ambassadors of Poland and the Netherlands were injured in the crash.

Army spokesperson Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted the MI-17 helicopter had made an emergency landing in Naltar.

It is unclear what caused the crash.

Three MI-17 helicopters were flying diplomats to the mountainous northern region of Gilgit region where Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was to attend a public ceremony.

"Two helicopters landed safely but the third one crashed and caught fire," Bajwa said.

The nationality of the other foreigners on board was not immediately known.

jlw/kms (AFP, AP)