Fighter jet crashes in Pakistani mountains, killing pilot

Fighter jet crashes in Pakistani mountains, killing pilot

2012-02-09 08:30:15 GMT+7 (ICT)

QUETTA, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A pilot was killed on Wednesday when his Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jet crashed in a mountainous area in western Pakistan, air force officials said. The cause was not immediately known.

A statement from the Pakistani Air Force said the accident happened during a routine training mission when the China-made F-7PG fighter jet crashed in a mountainous area about 24 nautical miles (44.4 kilometers) north of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

"The pilot embraced martyrdom," the statement said, identifying the victim as Tauseef Ahmed. "No loss to civilian life or property on the ground has been reported."

It was not immediately known what caused the accident, but the PAF said a board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate.

The crash comes just two days after PAF received an F-16 D Block 52 and two F-16 Block 15 MLU (Mid Life Upgrade) aircraft from the United States. The aircraft are part of a 2005-2006 contract with the United States in order for Pakistan to acquire a total of 18 F-16 C/D Block 52 planes.

Wednesday's crash is the fourth of an air force fighter jet in as many months. In late January, a female trainee pilot and her instructor escaped safely when their FT-7 training aircraft crashed after take-off from Mianwali in Punjab province.

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