A Super Mushshak training plane of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) made an emergency landing in the fields near Mardan on Wednesday after facing issues mid-flight. The PAF stated that both pilots present in the plane survived the crash-landing and a board of inquiry will be constituted to investigate the incident.
The Super Mushshak aircraft is an advanced variant of the Mushshak basic trainer and is used for providing basic flight training to aspiring pilots. It has a service ceiling of 22,000 feet, a maximum speed of 268 km/hr and a range of 814 km. The aircraft was upgraded in 2017 to make it compatible with counter-insurgency operations, with the integration of a new glass cockpit and reconnaissance capabilities.
The Super Mushshak aircraft is in service with several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, South Africa, Nigeria, Qatar, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan. Pakistan was also set to export 40 Super Mushshak aircraft to Turkiye in cooperation with the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra and their Turkish counterparts.
This is not the first time that a PAF training plane has crashed in the Mardan district. In February 2020, a Mushshak aircraft crashed in the area while on a routine training mission, and the pilot was able to eject safely. In March 2022, two pilots lost their lives when their trainer aircraft crashed on the outskirts of Peshawar.
The PAF’s board of inquiry will investigate the cause of the crash-landing and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of future flights.
