PAF Training Aircraft Crash in Mardan
MARDAN - Two pilots were martyred and two civilians, including a policeman, were injured after a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) training aircraft crashed near Gaddar Chowk on Katlang Road on Monday, according to Rescue 1122 and police officials.
The aircraft, on a routine training sortie, went down in the Katlang area. The martyred pilots were identified as Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy. The injured civilians were identified as policeman Umardaraz, son of Sher Baz, a resident of Lundkhwar, and Masood, son of Kashwar.
Upon impact, a massive fire broke out, engulfing a large portion of the road. The civilians, who were traveling on motorbikes, sustained burns from the flames. Rescue 1122 promptly transported the injured to a local hospital, where their condition is reported to be out of danger.
Governor Expresses Grief
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi expressed profound grief and sorrow over the crash. In a condolence message, he conveyed deep sadness over the martyrdom of the two officers, stating that the nation would always remember their supreme sacrifice.
Governor Kundi noted that the martyred pilots laid down their lives in the defense and security of the country, and their courage, professionalism, and devotion to duty would remain a source of pride for the nation. He extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace for the martyrs and patience for their families. He affirmed that the entire nation stands in solidarity with the armed forces during this hour of grief.
