Pakistan Air Force training aircraft crashes near Mardan, both pilots killed

A Pakistan Air Force grooming craft crashed during a regular grooming ngo adjacent Mardan successful Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state connected Monday, sidesplitting some pilots connected board, according to Pakistan's military.The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media helping of the equipped forces, said the trainer craft went down portion conducting a regular grooming sortie.The subject identified the deceased arsenic Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy."A committee of enquiry has been constituted by Air Headquarters to ascertain the origin of the accident," the ISPR said.Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, different work chiefs and members of the equipped forces expressed condolences pursuing the crash.The subject said they expressed "deep grief implicit the tragic nonaccomplishment of precious lives and widen heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families".President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif besides expressed condolences implicit the deaths of the 2 pilots.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the incidental arsenic a "tragic crash" and paid tribute to the pilots.“Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May Allah assistance the departed highest ranks successful Jannah and springiness spot to their loved ones successful this hard time,” Dar posted connected X.The clang comes little than a week aft a Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 chopper crashed adjacent Muzaffarabad successful Pakistan-administered Kashmir during take-off, reportedly owed to a method fault.According to the military, each 22 unit connected committee were killed successful the June 10 clang and a committee of enquiry was ordered to find the nonstop cause.Pakistan has witnessed respective subject chopper and craft accidents successful caller years.According to reporting by Pakistani regular Dawn, 5 subject unit were killed successful September 2025 erstwhile an service chopper crashed successful Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer territory pursuing a reported method fault. Earlier that year, a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities rescue chopper crashed successful Mohmand territory during atrocious weather, sidesplitting 2 pilots and 3 unit members. *(Inputs from Dawn)*Accroding to the Dawn, The 2nd fractional of 2022 besides saw 2 fatal service chopper crashes. In August that year, six subject personnel, including Commander 12 Corps Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali, were killed erstwhile a chopper went down successful Balochistan's Lasbela district. A period later, six service officers, including 2 majors, died erstwhile different chopper crashed during a ngo adjacent Khost successful Balochistan's Harnai district.

(Wiht inputs from AP and PTI)