Pakistan Air Force trainer jet crashes in residential area, killing two pilots

A Pakistani Air Force training jet crashed today in the middle of a residential neighborhood in northwestern Pakistan, with the impact captured on security cameras and later circulated on social media. The aircraft came down in Mardan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and local authorities said the blast injured three civilians on the ground. Video from the scene also showed motorcyclists near the crash point being hit by the force of the explosion.

Pakistan’s Air Force headquarters has opened a special investigation committee to determine what caused the accident. The Pakistan military’s public relations wing confirmed the inquiry and said, “An investigation committee was established by Air Force headquarters to determine the cause of the accident.”

The two pilots killed in the crash were identified as Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy. Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and the commanders of the armed forces issued a joint statement expressing deep sorrow over their deaths while on duty.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the fatal flight ended in a crash in Mardan district. The article notes that training accidents are relatively common in Pakistan, but the security establishment usually keeps details of such incidents vague, and official investigation reports are typically withheld from the public.