ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Air Force training aircraft crashed during a routine training mission near Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, on Monday (June 15), killing both pilots on board.

Pakistan’s military identified the victims as Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy. Authorities have launched an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.

In a condolence message, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu paid tribute to the two officers, praising their professionalism, dedication, and sacrifice in the line of duty. He said their service reflected the highest traditions of Pakistan’s armed forces and offered condolences to their families.

The crash comes less than a week after a Pakistan Army helicopter accident near Muzaffarabad, highlighting a series of military aviation incidents reported in recent years.