Pakistan Air Force K-8 Crash

A Pakistan Air Force K-8 Karakoram trainer aircraft crashed in the Manda Khel area near Mianwali, Punjab, on May 20, 2026, during a routine operational training mission. Both pilots reported a technical malfunction in the engine and ejected safely before the aircraft impacted the ground. No casualties or property damage were reported on the ground; the crew reportedly steered the aircraft away from a nearby village before ejecting. The K-8 is a jet trainer jointly developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China's Hongdu Aircraft Industry Group, and has served as the primary basic trainer for PAF pilots for over two decades. An investigation has been launched to determine the root cause.