4 killed, 10 injured in PAF training aircraft collision

Planes were being used for flight formation manoeuvre training of pilots, sources said.

NOWSHERA: At least four people were killed and 10 were injured when two Pakistan Air Force (PAF) training airplanes collided in mid-air and fell on nearby houses in the Risalpur area of Nowshehra on Thursday, Express News reported.

Of the four people killed, squadron leaders Syed Masood Rizvi and Zaigham Abbas were instructors and flight lieutenant Mustafa and squadron leader Moazzam were trainee pilots, whereas among the injured, three were reported to be children and one was a woman, sources said.

Sources said that both planes were being used for flight formation manoeuvre training, which coincided with reports from eye witnesses who reported that the crash was caused when the planes collided in mid-air.

According to eye witnesses, the wings of both the airplanes collided with each other, setting the aircraft on fire, which caused them to crash on two houses below, destroying their roofs.

"Two PAF trainer aircraft collided mid-air. Four pilots were killed, two were trainee pilots and two were instructors," district police officer Mohammad Hussain said.

"One of the aircraft crashed over a house, injuring a girl and an elderly man, and the second plane crashed in the fields."

Another police official, Hayatullah, who used only one name, confirmed the casualties.

Security forces cordoned off the area and locals began rescue efforts. The injured were shifted to district Mardan Hospital and investigations are underway.

Initial reports say the aircraft were the Mushshak, a basic training airplane used by PAF, six of which were lost to crashes in August 2008, March 2009, September 2009, April 2010, December 2010 and June 2011.

Earlier in February, two people were killed in an aircraft crash in the Model Town area of Lahore.

View more pictures of the incident here.