A PAC MFI-17 Mushshak aircraft plunged to the ground 4 km south of Quetta Cantonment Air Base on 12 October 2026, killing Major Husnain Shehzad Humayun and Captain Abdul Samad as soon as the jet left the runway.
The MFI-17, a two‑seat trainer bought from China, has been a staple of Pakistan’s army aviation since the 1990s. Technical failures during training flights are not uncommon; the last incident in June involved a similar aircraft that crashed in northwestern Pakistan, claiming both crew members.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued statements of condolence to the families, while the Army spokesperson said the cause was a mechanical fault and that the investigation would be conducted by the Directorate of Military Aviation. The military pledged a full report by the end of the month.
Local residents report seeing the jet’s black smoke streak across the desert at dawn, and a nearby farmer’s wife, Fatima, said she had watched the aircraft climb before it exploded. The crash has heightened concerns among training pilots about maintenance protocols, especially after the April report that found several jets with overdue inspections.