PAF’s first martyred female pilot laid to rest

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Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar, one of Pakistan‘s few female fighter jet pilots, who died in crash in Mianwali, was laid to rest in Karachi on Wednesday.

Pakistani Air Force officials, Corps Commander Lt General Naveed Mukhtar and the family members attended her funeral prayers in Malir Cantt.

Squadron Leader Saqib Abbasi and co-pilot Marium were flying a training mission on an FT-7PG aircraft when they encountered a “serious in-flight emergency” during the final stages in Kundian, Mianwali, district.

Marium embraced martyrdom in the incident and became the first lady pilot from PAF to attain this great honour while the male officer, Abbasi, sustained serious injuries. She was among about 20 female fighter pilots in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which only began inducting women in combat roles in 2006. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif telephoned the father of Mariam Mukhtar and expressed his deep condolences on her martyrdom.