A trainer aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed near Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday during a routine training mission, resulting in the deaths of both pilots on board, according to a report by Dawn.
The incident occurred when the aircraft was on a standard training sortie, as per a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan military. The deceased were identified as Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the PAF and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy.
The ISPR confirmed that both officers died while performing their duties. It further stated that a board of inquiry has been established by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the accident.
Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, along with other service chiefs and all ranks of the Pakistan Armed Forces, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed grief over the crash and paid tribute to the deceased pilots. In a post on X, Dar said he was deeply grieved by the tragic crash and paid tribute to the pilots who embraced martyrdom in the line of duty.
This incident follows a recent crash on June 10, when a Mi-17 helicopter of the Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad during takeoff due to a technical fault, killing all personnel on board. The ISPR had then ordered a board of inquiry to ascertain the exact technical cause of that accident.
The cause of the latest crash remains unclear, and investigations are underway.
