Female pilot Marium martyred as PAF training aircraft crashes near Mianwali

MIANWALI: A lady pilot was martyred when Pakistan Air Force (PAF) training aircraft crashed in Kachha Gujrat, suburbs of Mianwali.

Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar and Squadron Leader Saqib Abbasi were flying a training mission on an FT-7PG aircraft and encountered a "serious in-flight emergency" during the final stages, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in a statement.

"Flying Officer Marium embraced martyrdom and became the first lady pilot from PAF to attain this great honour," it said.

The crash took place in Kundian, Mianwali district, about 175 kilometres (109 miles) southwest of Islamabad.

The male officer, Abbasi, sustained minor injuries, the air force added.