During a rehearsal for a national day military parade, a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet crashed in Islamabad Wednesday, killing the pilot, officials said.
Footage on social media showed a plume of smoke billowing into the sky after the plane hit the ground having apparently attempted a loop.
A Pakistani Air Force spokesman said the pilot, Wing Commander Nauman Akram, died in the crash.
“Pakistan Air Force reports with regret that a PAF F-16 aircraft crashed near Shakarparian, Islamabad during the rehearsals of 23rd March parade,” the air force said in a statement.
The rehearsals were for the annual military parade in Islamabad this month to celebrate Pakistan Day.
The F-16 jets are among the most valuable hardware in the Pakistani military’s arsenal and the country has a fleet of about 50 — each worth at least $40 million.
Wednesday’s incident comes just months after a fighter jet crashed during a training mission near Mianwali in Punjab province, killing both pilots.
