MARDAN, June 15: A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) trainer aircraft crashed during a routine training sortie near Mardan on Monday, resulting in the martyrdom of both pilots on board, the military’s media wing said.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the deceased were identified as Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy.
The ISPR said Air Headquarters has constituted a board of inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.
Following the incident, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, the services chiefs, and all ranks of the Pakistan Armed Forces expressed grief over the loss of the two officers and extended condolences to their families.
The crash comes five days after a Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off. The ISPR had attributed that incident to a technical fault and said all personnel on board were martyred. A board of inquiry was also ordered to investigate the cause of the accident.
In September 2025, five military personnel were martyred when an army helicopter crashed in Diamer District due to a technical fault.
Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences over the deaths of the two officers.
In separate statements, both leaders paid tribute to Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi, prayed for the departed souls, and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families.
The ISPR said investigations are underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.