Two PAF officers martyred in Mardan jet crash

A Pakistan Air Force trainer aircraft crashed near Mardan during a routine training mission on Monday. Two officers were martyred in the incident.

MARDAN: A Pakistan Air Force trainer aircraft crashed near Mardan during a routine training mission on Monday. Two officers were martyred in the incident.

The crash involved a Super Mushshak trainer aircraft. It was on a scheduled training sortie at the time of the accident.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), both personnel on board lost their lives. The aircraft went down in a training area near Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan district.

The martyred officers were identified as Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force. He was serving as an instructor pilot. The second officer was Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy, who was undergoing training.

ISPR said a board of inquiry has been formed. The inquiry will determine the exact cause of the crash. Air Headquarters will lead the investigation.

Senior military leadership expressed deep sorrow over the incident. The Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir extended condolences to the families of the martyrs. Other service chiefs also shared grief over the loss.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed sadness over the crash. He offered prayers for the departed souls. He said the armed forces of Pakistan continue to show professionalism and dedication in national defence.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the incident. He paid tribute to the officers and called them martyrs of the nation. He expressed solidarity with their families in this difficult time.

Rescue teams reached the crash site soon after the incident. Recovery operations were completed on priority. Authorities confirmed that further technical investigation is underway.

Officials said the exact cause of the crash is not yet known. A detailed inquiry will review all possible technical and operational factors.

This incident comes after a recent helicopter crash in Muzaffarabad, where another military aircraft accident occurred due to a technical fault.

Authorities have stated that aviation safety procedures are being closely reviewed. They assured that all necessary steps will be taken to prevent future accidents.