A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) trainer aircraft on a routine sortie crashed near Mardan on Monday, martyring both pilots on board, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
The military’s media wing has identified the pilots onboard as Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the PAF and Lt. Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy. It said Air Headquarters has constituted a board of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with the services chiefs and all ranks of the Pakistan Armed Forces, expressed deep grief over the tragic loss of precious lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Monday’s crash occurred five days after a Mi-17 helicopter of the Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad due to a “technical fault.” According to ISPR, there were no survivors. It said a board of inquiry had been ordered to ascertain the exact technical cause of the accident.
In separate statements, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the crash that claimed the lives of two pilots. The president paid tribute to Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi, who embraced martyrdom in the accident. He prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and for strength and patience for their bereaved families. He said the nation would always remember the sacrifices of its brave sons who laid down their lives in defense of the country, and extended heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the grieving families.
The prime minister, meanwhile, expressed sorrow over the crash and offered condolences on the martyrdom. He also prayed for the departed souls and for the bereaved families to bear the loss with courage and fortitude.
He said the professionalism and dedication of Pakistan’s armed forces in defending the country were unparalleled, and extended his sympathies to the families of the two martyred officers.