A Pakistan Air Force trainer aircraft crashed near Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday during a routine training sortie, resulting in the deaths of both pilots on board, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. The incident has prompted the formation of a board of inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.
The aircraft was being flown by Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy when it went down in the vicinity of Mardan. Both officers were killed on impact, the statement confirmed, describing their deaths as martyrdom.
The Inter-Services Public Relations said the aircraft was engaged in a routine training mission at the time of the crash. Rescue and recovery operations were carried out immediately after the incident, while Air Headquarters ordered an inquiry board to investigate the technical and operational factors that may have contributed to the accident.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, along with other service chiefs, expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. The military leadership extended condolences to the families of the deceased officers and praised their professionalism and dedication to duty.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also conveyed their sorrow over the crash. In separate statements, they paid tribute to the young officers and prayed for patience and strength for the bereaved families. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar similarly expressed condolences, stating that the nation stood with the families in their grief.
The crash comes just five days after another aviation incident involving an Mi-17 helicopter of the Pakistan Army Aviation, which went down near Muzaffarabad during take-off due to a reported technical fault. All personnel on board were killed in that incident as well.
A pattern of military aviation accidents has been recorded in recent years. These include helicopter crashes in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district in 2024, Mohmand district due to bad weather, and multiple incidents in 2022 and earlier, several of which were attributed to technical faults during operations or training missions.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of Monday’s crash. The investigation by Air Headquarters is expected to focus on mechanical performance, maintenance records and operational conditions at the time of the sortie. The military has reiterated its commitment to determining the cause and preventing future incidents.