Mardan, Pakistan: A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) training aircraft crashed during a routine training mission near Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, killing both military personnel onboard and injuring 3 civilians on the ground, according to Pakistani military officials and local media reports.
The aircraft went down in the Jabr Canal-Katlang Road area near Mardan, triggering a large fire and sending thick black smoke into the sky. Dramatic videos circulating on social media showed the aircraft descending rapidly before impacting the ground and erupting into a fireball, prompting an immediate response from rescue and emergency services.
Pakistan’s military confirmed that both occupants of the aircraft were killed in the crash. They were identified as Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy.
The presence of a naval officer onboard indicates the sortie may have formed part of a joint training programme involving personnel from multiple branches of Pakistan’s armed forces.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the aircraft was conducting a routine training flight when the accident occurred. A Board of Inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the crash.
Reports regarding civilian injuries said that 3 civilians sustained injuries from debris, while no civilian fatalities have been reported. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion before seeing flames and smoke rising from the crash site. Rescue personnel and law enforcement agencies quickly secured the area and began recovery operations.
Several reports suggested the pilots may have attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas before impact, potentially reducing the scale of civilian casualties. However, this has not been officially confirmed by Pakistani authorities.
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir expressed grief over the loss of the two servicemen and extended condolences to their families.
The accident occurred less than a week after another major military aviation tragedy in Pakistan, when an Army Mi-17 helicopter crashed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing 22 military personnel. The back-to-back incidents have renewed attention on military aviation safety and training operations in the country.
Pakistan has experienced several military training aircraft accidents over the years, though findings of official investigations are often not publicly released. Authorities have stated that the cause of the latest crash will be determined following the completion of the inquiry.
