Pilot dies as Pakistani Air Force trainer crashes

A Pakistani Air Force (PAF) pilot was killed when his trainer jet crashed in Balochistan Wednesday, the authorities said.

The Chinese-built F7-PG trainer crashed near Pashin, some 50 km from Quetta, shortly after take-off, Online news agency reported.

The authorities had earlier said that the pilot had successfully ejected but sustained serious injuries.

This is the fourth PAF trainer to have crashed in the past three months. Two pilots were killed in the past incidents. A helicopter crash last June left four military personnel dead.

The PAF has a mixed fleet of Chinese aircraft, including F-7PGs and A-5s, as well as US-built F-16s and French Mirages. It recently acquired the JF-7 Thunder jets, jointly manufactured by China and Pakistan.