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Airlift Brings Eight Bodies From Broad Peak After Deadly Avalanche

The recoveries expose how weather, terrain, helicopter limits, complex formalities constrain high‑altitude rescue operations.

Pakistani army soldiers and volunteers prepare to load into ambulances, the bodies of climbers, that were recovered from Broad Peak nearly a week after an avalanche swept away a 10-member international expedition, upon arrival at a military base in Skardu, in northern Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/ M.H. Balti)
Pakistani army soldiers prepare to load into an ambulance, the body of renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, that was recovered from Broad Peak nearly a week after an avalanche swept away a 10-member international expedition, upon arrival at military base in Skardu, in northern Pakistan, Thursday, Aug 6, 2026. (AP Photo/ M.H. Balti)
Pakistani army soldiers and volunteers prepare to load into ambulances, the bodies of climbers, that were recovered from Broad Peak nearly a week after an avalanche swept away a 10-member international expedition, upon arrival at a military base in Skardu, in northern Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/ M.H. Balti)
Pakistani army soldiers and volunteers unload from a helicopter the bodies of climbers, that were recovered from Broad Peak nearly a week after an avalanche swept away a 10-member international expedition, upon arrival at a military base in Skardu, in northern Pakistan, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/ M.H. Balti)

Overview

  • An avalanche that struck Broad Peak on July 30 swept a 10‑member international expedition led by Nirmal Purja and has been confirmed to have killed all 10 climbers.
  • Pakistan Army helicopters on Aug. 6 airlifted five more bodies to Skardu, raising the total recovered from the site to eight and moving remains to the Combined Military Hospital for formalities and transfer to Islamabad.
  • Two climbers, including Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi and American Mallory Geis, remain missing and searches continue when weather and avalanche risk allow.
  • Regional officials and the Alpine Club of Pakistan credited joint Pakistani and Nepali high‑altitude teams and Pakistan Army support for carrying out a technically demanding recovery under extreme conditions.
  • Families and embassies are coordinating repatriation while the Nimsdai Foundation has launched fundraising for victims’ families and the episode has renewed scrutiny of rescue limits on the world’s highest peaks.