A military helicopter went down in South Waziristan today. All eight on board were killed including Major General Javed Sultan, the recently promoted commanding officer of Kohat garrison as well as two brigadiers. The official explanation from Islamabad is that the crash was due to “technical reasons.”
However, sources report that the helicopter was one of the brand new Bell 412 helicopters provided to Pakistan by the United States. They also state that militants in South Waziristan have been using anti-aircraft missiles. Sources narrate further that the helicopter had been visiting a unit in South Waziristan and was on its way back when, within 3 minutes of taking off, it came down.
If militants did indeed manage to shoot down the helicopter, it would mark the first time militants have downed a Pakistani helicopter.
Individuals within the establishment have said that US, Indian, and/or Afghan involvement in the helicopter crash/downing cannot be ruled out. They cite a recent decision by the government of Pakistan to review its strategy in FATA. Downing the helicopter maybe a means of instigating the Pakistan Army to use more force or to get out of the region all together.
More to come.
7 responses so far ↓
1 capt Jean Bizot // Feb 7, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Hi,
I am capt Jean Bizot french helicopter pilot and rotary-wing historian. I am interested in having a copy the picture illustrating this article because it is the image of the Bell 412 contender for the last US Army LUH competition. Picture is from Bell Helicopters.
Your help in this matter will be very much appreciated
with regards
2 Abdul khaliq // Feb 7, 2008 at 8:22 pm
1.Army deputes senior pilots when the passenger is major general or above.Here it was two captains flying the helicopter apparently whith not much experience in rotary wing.
2.The helicopter went down in Tanai about 20 km away from Wana which is predominantly Wazeer tribe area and wazeers have cease fire agreement with army.The chances of shooting down are very slim.
3.Militants have limited capabilty of shooting down low flying helicopters but generaly have avoided doing so because the tribals are still not supporting them all out against Pak army for obvious reason.
3 Shaan Akbar // Feb 7, 2008 at 11:40 pm
- How do you know they didn’t have experience?
- How many times have cease fires between the Pakistan Army and the tribes lasted? Are Pushtun tribes known for holding to agreements?
- Small arms fire is enough to bring down a helicopter. Kashmiri militants have brought down Indian helicopters. Pushtun tribes have access to heavy weaponry and anti-aircraft missiles. It’s not beyond the realm of reality.
4 noman habib // Feb 8, 2008 at 6:22 am
1.I think we need to understand the tribal psyche
normaly an outsider from other tribe is not welcomed to conduct this kind of operation within the tribal boundries of the resident tribes.
2.Final reasons for crash would be determined after the inquiry by Army .
3.In Kashmir probabaly the heli,s fly in the valleys below the peaks but wazeeristan mountains are not so hight however a single bullet can take down a helicopter but it would be a lucky shot
5 noman habib // Feb 9, 2008 at 7:54 am
1.Probabaly one thing more to be kept in mind
were these helicopters delivered from the factory or were in service with US army.
2.Are these machines brand new or reconditioned?
3.Conversion from fixed wing to rotary wing is only done after completion of cirtain hours of flying in fixed wings and general flying record.Probabaly a captain with let us say 6 to 7
years of service is not experienced enough to fly VIP.
4.About tribals we need to remeber that center of gravity in the region has shifted to Afghanistan following flawed policy will result in inteligence failures and loss of credibility which is a must to win this war.Victory means NATO withdrawl and a free and peaceful Afghanistan
6 imran tahir // Feb 9, 2008 at 5:00 pm
noman shahib these helicopters manufactured in canada they have bell plant here i listen on cbc radio about this the hellfire missle plant is in ontario too.
7 Abdul khaliq // Feb 10, 2008 at 10:57 am
1.Tribals will break all the cease fire agreement because it is against their if i put it right ‘’supreme political opinion of Pashtoons”.
to further clarify the matter we are forcing tribals on gun point to eat pork and expect them not to vomit it out.
2probabaly crew fatigue ,with long flying hours etc and less experienced pilots are responsible for crash.It is sure that it was not shot down.
3.About tribal capabilities of tribals for shooting down helicopter I tend to agree with Shan.
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