Two Pakistan Army pilots were killed on Monday when a Mushshak training aircraft crashed near Nawan Killi in Quetta after reportedly developing a technical fault, Xinhua reported.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the aircraft belonged to Pakistan Army Aviation and went down around midday during a training mission.

The crash claimed the lives of Major Husnain Shehzad Humayun, who was serving as the instructor pilot, and Captain Abdul Samad, a trainee pilot. Both were killed in the incident.

The military stated that the aircraft crashed due to a technical malfunction. No information was provided regarding damage on the ground or any additional casualties.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over the loss of the two pilots and conveyed his condolences to their families.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed sorrow over the tragedy and paid tribute to the fallen servicemen.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi offered condolences to the bereaved families, stating that the nation stood with them during their time of grief.

The accident is the latest in a series of military aviation incidents attributed to technical faults.

In June, a Pakistan Army Aviation Mi-17 helicopter crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off following a reported technical malfunction, killing all personnel on board.

During the same month, a Pakistan Air Force aircraft crashed in Mardan while conducting a routine training sortie, resulting in the deaths of both pilots.

In September last year, an army helicopter crashed in Chilas, located in Diamer district, after developing a technical fault. All five crew members aboard were killed.

The latest crash has once again highlighted the risks associated with military flight training operations, particularly in challenging operational environments where aircraft reliability and maintenance remain critical factors.

Agencies