Two pilots were killed in a horrific plane crash in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) trainer aircraft crashed during a routine training flight near the city of Mardan on Monday. The crash sparked a fire at the scene and sent the entire area into a state of panic. The Pakistan Army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the aircraft was on a routine training mission. It lost control and crashed shortly after takeoff, killing both pilots on board.
The deceased include Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy. The army said that both officers lost their lives in the line of duty. After the incident, the Pakistan Air Force has formed a high-level investigation committee to find out the cause of the accident. It is not yet clear what initially caused the plane to crash. It is being investigated whether there is a technical fault, mechanical problem or any other reason.
After the accident, there was a brief panic in Mardan and the surrounding areas. The local administration quickly reached the spot and started rescue operations. The debris was removed, the bodies were recovered and the area was cordoned off. Pakistan’s military and political leadership expressed deep grief over the incident. At the same time, condolences were extended to the families of the deceased pilots.
