According to the data, officially released by Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR), the military aircraft was crashed near Mora Kalu area, Rawalpindi on Tuesday during a routine patrolling flight.
Five crew members, Lt. Col. Saqib (pilot), Lt. Col. Waseem (pilot), Naib Subedar Afzal, Havaldar Ibne Ameen, and Havaldar Rehmat were martyred in the crash whereas, around 13 civilians also lost their lives.
Eye-witnesses stated that the pilot attempted to avoid the populated area but eventually lost control and crashed. Military’s rescue team along with the Rescue 1122 immediately responded to the crash site and around 18 bodies were shifted to the hospital, as stated by the local rescue spokesperson. Wounded were moved to Holy Family Hospital and Pak Army cordoned off the site.
The crash caused a massive fire which expectedly increased the death count as it engulfed multiple houses as well. The recovered bodies were critically burnt and DNA tests would be required for their identification.
Funeral prayers of the martyred were offered at Chaklala Garrison which was also attended by Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Heartfelt condolences were shared by all government officials including Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi, Leader of the opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar. The accident happened just days after the twin assault on Pak Army in KPK and Baluchistan, in which 8 soldiers and a young captain were martyred by the armed terrorists.
Turkey also shared a message on the tragic incident which stated that “We received the news with deep sorrow that a Pakistan Air Force plane on a training mission crashed into a residential area in the city of Rawalpindi of Pakistan. We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives in this tragic accident, convey our condolences to the friendly government and the brotherly people of Pakistan,”
