An army transport helicopter crashed in the tribal region of Orakzai and Up to 26 Pakistani security personnel are feared dead as reported by BBC. The cause of the crash is unclear; the most likely explanation was a technical failure.

The crash comes as a suspected US drone strike in South Waziristan killed at least 10 militants. The MI-17 helicopter had been flying back to Peshawar from the Afghan border region when the pilot put out a Mayday alert. The helicopter then came down “in a hostile area” where it was fired upon by militants, according to officials.

Troops were sent in and exchanged fire with the insurgents. An investigation into the crash would be carried out according to Military officials. It is a serious blow for the Pakistani military as it prepares for the next phase of its offensive against Taliban militants in the north-west tribal belt along the Afghan border.

The region has been under control of Baitullah Mehsud, where Pakistan Army is having a latest fight going on. This incident victimizes the lives of more than two dozens of our soldiers. It has becoming harder and harder day by day to flush out the militants but our brave soldiers are there to guard all of us.