One of Pakistan’s few female fighter jet pilots was killed in a training crash Tuesday, the air force said in a statement, adding that she was the first of its women pilots to “embrace martyrdom”.

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.

“Both the pilots handled the serious emergency with professionalism and courage and tried to save the ill-fated aircraft till the very last minute,” the statement said.

Mukhtiar’s body was flown to an air force base in Karachi where a ceremony was held for her late Tuesday.

Credit: Yahoo