PAF jet crashes in Khyber; pilot killed

A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jet crashed in Khyber Agency on Saturday, killing its pilot, air force and security officials said.

“Flight Lieutenant Omer Shahzad embraced shahadat (martyrdom) after his F-7PG encountered a technical fault during a routine training mission and crashed in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency,” a PAF spokesman said.

A senior security official stationed in Khyber Agency said the aircraft crashed in the Chapri mountains. He said locals, who informed the agency’s political administration of the crash, observed the jet in low-level flight before the accident.

Military and paramilitary troops reached the crash site soon after to recover the remains of the aircraft, Khyber Agency Political Agent Capt (retd) Khalid Mahmood said. According to him, the pilot was initially thought to have ejected in time but was found to be critically wounded and succumbed to his injuries.

No loss of civilian life and property has been reported from the crash, the PAF spokesman said. The Air Headquarters have ordered a board of inquiry to determine the cause of the accident.