Rangers' helicopter crash

The demise of Punjab Rangers Director General Major General Mohammad Nawaz along with his aide-de-camp and son Captain Asif Nawaz, pilot Lieutenant Colonel Amir Abbas and technician Subedar Ibadullah in a helicopter crash comes as a big jolt amid high profile attacks on security related targets.
The helicopter was on its way from Dera Ghazi Khan to Kashmore when it ran into rough weather, and the pilot informed the control tower in Multan that he had changed course and was headed towards it. Soon afterwards, contact was lost and the copter went down into River Indus at Bakhari Ahmad Khan, some 40 kilometres from Layyah city. Eyewitnesses have said that it was on fire. Some even claim to have heard blast sounds. Most probably, the tragedy was the result of bad weather or a technical failure. But in the present difficult times, anything is possible.
Common sense suggests that while nasty weather can cause grave harm, fire could be the result of a technical problem. It is for experts to say whether the two issues were linked, and if weather related trouble could ignite fire as well. However, according to a press report, the machine involved was an American-made Bell 206, which is considered very safe and highly unlikely to catch fire. Then there is also the fact the DG of Punjab Rangers was flying in a helicopter, which unlike other planes, could land anywhere. But the pilot decided to go to the nearest airport, which means the weather conditions were not so menacing after all, and something else could have caused the crash.
In fact, a press report points out that Major General Nawaz had served as general officer commanding in Dera Ismail Khan, where militant groups challenging the writ of the state have been very active. The area where the helicopter ran into trouble is also said to be dangerous. The crash therefore could have been the result of sabotage.
One must not jump to conclusions, though. Those concerned, of course, will carry out detailed investigation into the incident. We may never know the outcome, nor should we expect to know since it may involve sensitive security-related issues. But the tragedy that it was will continue to sadden hearts for sometime to come.