KARACHI / SUKKUR: The Commanding Officer of the Airport Security Force (ASF) in Nawabshah, Tanweer Ahmed Khan, died after being hit at the Sukkur airport by the propeller of an aircraft of the PIA Training Academy on Thursday. He had traveled by the aircraft from Nawabshah.

The Civil Aviation Authority launched an investigation into the accident.

According to sources, the pilot / trainer, an under-training pilot and two ASF officials, including the deceased, were in the plane.

It was not clear why the ASF officials were traveling in a training aircraft, why its door was opened while the propellers were still rotating and what was the rush owing to which the deceased went so near the engine.

PIA spokesman Mashhood Tajwar said the pilot turned off the engine and Mr Khan got off the aircraft, but on the tarmac he was hit in the arm by the rotating propeller. He started to bleed and died before reaching a hospital.