Pakistan

Two dead as PAF Mirage aircraft crashes in DI Khan

Bodies of the pilot and co-pilot are beyond recognition; rescue team dispatched to the site

Our Correspondent March 04, 2015

PHOTO: INP

PESHAWAR: A Pakistan Air Force (PAF)Mirage aircraft crashed Wednesday afternoon in Miran area of D I Khan district.

District police (DP) has so far confirmed deaths of both the pilot and the co-pilot. The bodies have been mutilated beyond recognition.

Read: PAF inducts Chinese-built warplane

Officials said the plane was on a training flight when it crashed. They added that during the flight, there was torrential rain and lightening which may have caused the crash. The DP office added that rescue teams have been dispatched to the area.

The plane crashed in Chirra, Miran situated around 80 kilometers away from D I Khan. Eyewitnesses said the plane caught fire during the crash.

In a statement, the PAF identified the pilots as Air Commodore Shafqat Mushtaq and Flight Lieutenant Sohaib Rasheed.

Further, a board of inquiry has been ordered by Air Headquarters to determine the cause of accident.

COMMENTS (13)

ADNAN BARI | 9 years ago | Reply Air commondore saheed was my neighbour . It was a hourable newz . Just because how many miraj we r losing with our brave pilots in trannings.

umer | 9 years ago | Reply Allah may bless their families with patience actualy its a grave lose for whole nation

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zara haq | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch Noman: Sorry for your loss. Actually nation's loss.

Ch Noman | 9 years ago | Reply Lieutenant Sohaib Rasheed he is my czn :(

M. Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply Sad news. May be we should say goodbye to remaining Mirages. We kept it flying for long years and PAF earned enough maintenance points. Mirages should now stand with F-86's. Please note a small correction of 'lightning' in the following sentence. 'They added that during the flight, there was torrential rain and lightening which may have caused the crash.'

A J Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Time to say good bye to this old vintage aircraft. Its more than 50 years that they are in service. God Bless the departed souls of Air Commodore Shafqat Mushtaq and Flight Lieutenant Sohaib Rasheed. (Ameen)

touseef | 9 years ago | Reply Are these junk planes reliable enough during war times?

A. Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Although the planes in question are no doubt aged and being used beyond their operational life, I wonder if the high maintenance standards of the PAF have dropped over the years. What about the spare parts being used ? As these planes have not been manufactured since the 1970s are the spare parts being bought from non-OEM third parties ?

Hammad | 9 years ago | Reply Shafqat Mushtaq was my uncle and i was told this happend when i was comming out of school. i still cant belive this is real

Songs | 9 years ago | Reply uhhu.. I wish i will be a great pilot, pray for me guys..

GS@Y | 9 years ago | Reply The comment about the mutilated bodies was gratuitous and in bad taste. Also, I am sure it's not the PAF spokesperson who ordered the inquiry, but a higher ranking PAF official. As always on ET, sloppy writing at its best!

JD | 9 years ago | Reply Inalilahe Waina ilaihe Rajeoon.

Burki | 9 years ago | Reply Sigh!! yet another of those junk clunker down along with two precious human lives. How many more to go and how many more losses our fighter pilots before PAF highs & mightys decide enough is enough?

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