A training aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) crashed near an inter-city bus terminal in Yousuf Goth, Baldia Town, Karachi, at 12:05 p.m. on June 3, due to some unknown technical fault.
The PAF officials confirmed that both the pilots, Wing Commander Khurram Sammad and Squadron Leader Umair Elahi, lost their lives in the crash.
Two civilians, identified as Ali Akbar and Sajid Riyasat, were also killed in the incident. Three others suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital, however, they were released after a few hours.
The bodies, which were in parts and had sustained severe burns, were shifted to Civil Hospital, Karachi, for autopsies.
One of the witness Ali Ahmed said, “The aircraft was flying at a very low altitude before it crashed. It bounced off the roofs of several buses and broke through electricity poles.”
One bus was completely destroyed while four others got partially damaged. The engine of the aircraft is reported to have been on fire before it crashed. Fire fighters, however, reported in time and managed to control the fire before it could spread further.
PAF will provide adequate compensation for the loss of life and property and will fully cover medical expenses of the injured, as per its standard operational rules.
The Air Force Headquarters has formed a board to determine the cause of accident.
