Two Pilots Killed as Pakistan Military Aircraft Crashes

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Islamabad: A Pakistani Air Force training aircraft crashed in a routine flight near Mardan in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, killing both pilots, reported military officials. A board of inquiry has been set to investigate the cause of the incident.

The victims were identified as Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy. The aeroplane crashed in an open region near the Jabr Canal in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to authorities, rescue services rushed to the scene following the accident. Some reports indicated possible civilian injuries, although officials had not confirmed the details. Footage circulating online revealed a big explosion when the plane collided with the ground.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and military leaders have expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased pilots. The accident occurred less than a week after a Pakistani military helicopter crashed in Kashmir, killing all people on board.