Two Pakistan Army Pilots Martyred as Training Aircraft Crashes Near Quetta

QUETTA: Two Pakistan Army Aviation pilots were martyred on Monday when their Mushshak training aircraft crashed near Nawan Killi in Quetta, Balochistan, after developing a technical fault, the military’s media wing said.

FAKTA

• What happened: A Mushshak training aircraft of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Nawan Killi, Quetta, around midday on 12 October 2026, due to a technical fault.
• Pilots martyred: Major Husnain Shehzad Humayun, the instructor pilot, and Captain Abdul Samad, the student pilot, both embraced shahadat in the crash.
• Official statement: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the technical fault and identified both pilots in a statement issued Monday.
• Condolences: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and extended sympathies to the bereaved families.
• Context: The crash follows two fatal military aviation accidents in June 2026 — an Mi-17 helicopter crash near Muzaffarabad and a PAF training aircraft crash near Mardan.

What the ISPR said

“Mid-day 12 October 2026, a Mushshak training aircraft of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Nawan Killi, Quetta, due to a technical fault,” the ISPR said in its statement. It identified the two officers as Major Husnain Shehzad Humayun, the instructor pilot, and Captain Abdul Samad, the student pilot, adding that both “embraced shahadat in the unfortunate crash.”

The Mushshak is a propeller-driven primary trainer aircraft used by Pakistan’s military aviation services for basic flight instruction, with dual controls that allow instructors to supervise student pilots during routine training missions.

Leadership expresses grief

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound sorrow over the martyrdom of the two pilots and extended heartfelt condolences to their families, praying for the martyrs to be granted high ranks.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed grief over the crash, offering his condolences to the families of the martyred pilots and praying for strength for the bereaved families to bear their loss.

Recent military aviation crashes

The Quetta crash comes after a series of fatal military aviation accidents in Pakistan this year. In June, an Mi-17 helicopter of the Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off, killing all personnel on board.

Earlier the same month, a Pakistan Air Force training aircraft crashed during a routine training mission near Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi. A board of inquiry was formed to determine the cause of that crash.

For more coverage of developments in the country, visit Watan News Pakistan.