A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft was on a “routine training mission” when it crashed near Pindigheb Town of Attock District Tuesday morning, an air force spokesperson confirmed. However, the pilot has managed to eject safely before the plan crash took place.
“A board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the accident,” said the statement from a PAF spokesperson. Luckily, no loss of life or property has been incurred as a result of the plane crash.
Not the first PAF crash during a ‘routine training’
The crash is not the first of PAF crashes that have taken place during a routine training, as a similar incident occurred in March in preparations for the March 23 celebrations, and the crash in March, sadly, was accompanied by losses.
Read more: Pakistan Air Force: Rising above the Oblivion
In March, PAF Wing Commander Nauman Akram embraced martyrdom as he opted not to eject and crash into the woods to save civilians. His F-16 fighter jet crashed near Shakarparian in Islamabad, an air force spokesman told in his statement. The aircraft was carrying out routine exercises for the preparations of March 23 parade when it crashed, reported officials from PAF.
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Two other PAF crashes occurred in the month of February. One of the crashes took place during a routine training mission near Takht Bhai in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan district and the other crash occurred near the Lahore-Multan motorway. In both incidents the pilots managed to eject safely.
Read more: Remembering Saiful Azam: PAF’s legendary Top Gun fighter pilot
Looking back to the previous month in January, a PAF aircraft crashed near Mianwali during a routine training as well. However, the January crash saw the loss of two PAF pilots – Squadron Leader Haris bin Khalid and Flying Officer Ibaadur Rehman, both embracing martyrdom in the plane crash.
GVS News Desk