June 12, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 07, 1429

MARDAN, June 11: A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilot was killed when his T-37 jet aircraft crashed in the Pir Garhi area near Mardan on Wednesday.

The aircraft was on a routine training flight when it went down. Pilot Officer Samman Riaz died instantaneously.

Officials said that the two-seater aircraft was on a solo mission. Witnesses said the aircraft had caught fire in the air before crashing into the fields. They said that a PAF chopper and officials reached the area immediately and recovered the body and collected pieces of the aircraft.

Our Islamabad Reporter adds: According to a PAF announcement, the crash apparently occurred due to ‘technical malfunction’.

No loss of life or property was reported on ground. A board of inquiry has been ordered by the Air Headquarters to determine the cause of the accident.