Two pilots martyred as PAF jet crashes

MIANWALI: Two pilots were martyred when a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) training aircraft crash near the M.M. Alam Base in Mianwali on Tuesday. A spokesperson of PAF said that during “routine operational training mission”, a PAF FT-7 aircraft had crash landed near Mianwali. The two pilots including Squadron Leader Haris bin Khalid and Flying Officer Ibaadur Rehman, embraced martyrdom in the aircraft crash, he informed further. He said that a board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident. In January 2019, a PAF pilot flying the same aircraft had embraced martyrdom when he crashed in similar circumstances in the Khad Koocha area of Mastung, Balochistan. Japanese ambassador to Pakistan MATSUDA Kuninori expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in a Pakistan Air Force aircraft crash near Mianwali on Tuesday. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and said that he is deeply grieved and saddened at this tragic news. The Ambassador prayed for the families of the two pilots onboard to bear this irreparable loss with patience and fortitude.–Agencies