Pakistan Air Force training plane crashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during routine sortie, both pilots killed

A Pakistan Air Force training plane crashed on Monday (local time) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing both pilots on board.

The military said the plane was on a routine training sortie when it crashed near Mardan. Both pilots, Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah of the Pakistan Air Force and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi of the Pakistan Navy, were killed in the crash.

The Air Force Headquarters in Islamabad has set up a commission of inquiry to determine the cause of the crash.

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chiefs of Services of Pakistan and all ranks of the Pakistan Armed Forces have expressed grief over the loss of life and expressed their sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the statement said.

This is a developing story. Further details are awaited.