Pakistan Air Force Training Aircraft Crashes In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Both Pilots Killed

A Pakistan Air Force trainer aircraft crash occurred on Monday during a routine training sortie , killing both pilots after the aircraft went down near Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , military officials confirmed.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the aircraft was engaged in a routine training mission when it suddenly crashed in an open area near Jabr Canal, close to Mardan. The impact resulted in the deaths of Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah (Pakistan Air Force) and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi (Pakistan Navy) .

Eyewitness accounts cited in early reports suggested the aircraft descended rapidly before impact, triggering a massive fireball explosion that engulfed part of the crash site. Emergency teams reached the location shortly after the incident and secured the area, while rescue operations continued amid wreckage scattered across the site.

A board of inquiry has been formally constituted by Air Headquarters to investigate the cause of the accident. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the crash resulted from technical failure, human error, or weather-related factors , and no evidence of external interference has been reported so far.

Top civil and military leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, expressed deep grief and condolences over the loss of the two officers, praising their service to the armed forces.

Reports also note that while civilian casualties remain unconfirmed, authorities have not ruled out minor ground impact due to the aircraft’s fall in a semi-populated area.

This incident adds to ongoing concerns over military aviation safety in Pakistan , following several recent training-related crashes in the region, with investigation findings expected in the coming weeks.