QUETTA: A pilot was killed when his Pakistan Air Force plane crashed Wednesday during a training mission in Balochistan, an air force spokesman said.
"It was a Chinese-made F-7PG training aircraft," Air Commodore Anis Mirza told AFP.
The plane crashed in Pishin district, 65 kilometres (40 miles) north of the provincial capital Quetta, during a "routine" training mission, he said, adding that the pilot "embraced martyrdom".
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, he said. An investigation is under way.
It was the fourth air force jet to crash in training in over three months. Two pilots were killed in the other incidents and a helicopter crash last June killed four military personnel.
The Pakistan Air Force has a fleet of Chinese aircraft including F-7PGs and A-5s, plus US-built F-16s and French Mirages. It recently acquired medium-tech JF-17, or Thunder jets, manufactured jointly by China and Pakistan.
COMMENTS (15)
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Pilot's name was not baige alam! his name was Haseef Alam shaheed.May ALLAH accept his shahadat and give sabar to all family members.
piolet named baige alam take a fly in combination with 5 jets.they didnt take height so much high.suddenly BAIGE found that staring is unable to move.then he took advice with his companions wich were flying with him.he tried his soo much hard but all in vain.then he got permissioned for ejection when each technique went fail.so he ejected out and height was not much ...so pairashoot dont have time to open and he struck up with mountation sharp cliff.his head struck with this and our very important asset died MAY HIS SOUL REST IN HEAVEN
We need to replace foreign junk with quality aircraft made in Pakistan. Allah have mercy on the defenders of the belivers.
Imagine the state this young man's family must be in. :'(
PAF needs to ground F-7p fleet that is obsolete technology now just like Migs-29.
The pilot was my best friend namely Baige Alam, both of we were class felows in college and tution centre...
I am not sure if JF-16 if jointly manufactured by Pakistan and China as is being claimed.. Read a report somewhere (do not recall) that the engine is from Russia and China had to obtain permission from Russia to sell these aircrafts to Pakistan. I may be wrong also.
Ever-since PAF new DCAS (Operations) has taken over this is fourth fatal crash....
No comments from Senate Committee for Defence or Defence Minister.
PAF Chief is not even pushed as he is leaving office (hopefully) next month and take over his Mega/Hyper market in Malaysia.
Outgoing DCAS (Operations) of last three year is also responsible to this state of affairs. Though he has passed the buck to new man and is totally indifferent despite such loss of lives and aircraft.
PAF needs to revamped. May God save our Air Force & its gallant airmen & women (ameen).
We need to take an external look into the affairs of PAF. Can't afford to keep losing val;uable lives and equipment.
Made in CHINA junk fighter will follow suit ;)
Pakistan is on track to beat the Indian record of aircraft crashes.
PAF will soon take title of "flying coffins" from IAF. Chinese junk taking lives of our men. Pakistan seriously needs to improve its foregin policy and economy to buy better quality western flying machines.
It is realy very sad news for pakistani's.May his soul rest in peace.
It seems that PAF wants to "phase out" their entire fleet by crashing them...:-).
"It was the fourth air force jet to crash in training in over three months." exactly how many "MORE" valuable pilot lives it'l take for PAF, before declaring these ANCIENT Training jets "Flying COFFINS".