Two army pilots martyred in Quetta training crash

Two Pakistan Army Aviation pilots were martyred on Monday after a Mushshak training aircraft crashed near Nawan Killi in Quetta due to a technical fault, according to the military’s media wing.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the aircraft crashed around midday on October 12. The pilots were identified as Major Husnain Shehzad Humayun, an instructor pilot, and Captain Abdul Samad, a student pilot.

Both officers lost their lives in the incident, the ISPR said, expressing sorrow over the tragic accident.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the deaths of the two pilots. They extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks.

In his statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the sacrifices made by the country’s armed forces were a source of pride for the nation. He said the entire country shared the families’ grief and paid tribute to the officers who lost their lives in service to Pakistan.

The prime minister also prayed for Allah Almighty to grant the martyrs a place in His mercy and give their families the strength to endure the loss.

The latest incident follows previous aviation accidents involving Pakistan Army aircraft. On June 10, a Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off after reportedly developing a technical fault. All personnel aboard were martyred, and a board of inquiry was ordered to determine the cause.

In another incident on September 2, 2025, an Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Hudor village in Gilgit-Baltistan during a routine training flight. Five crew members, including two pilots, lost their lives in that accident, according to the ISPR.