PESHAWAR: A flight lieutenant of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) died in an air crash in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency on Saturday.

Flight Lieutenant Omer Shahzad was flying F-7PG when the aircraft encountered a technical fault and crashed, said a statement issued by the PAF.

An investigation into the crash has been launched by the air force.

During his training, Shehzad was awarded "Sword of Honour" in upon best performance at PAF Academy Risalpur.

In November last year, a double-seat version of F-7PG, also known as the FT-7PGs, crashed near Kundian, Mianwali in which female fighter pilot Marium Muktiar died. The incident took place during a training mission.

Marium is the PAF’s first woman pilot to die while on duty.

F-7PGs were first inducted in the PAF in 2002 as a replacement for F-6, which were then de-commissioned. The trainer FT-7PGs came later.

The PAF had previously operated F-7Ps.

About seven or eight F-7PGs/FT-7PGs have been lost during the 13 years in service. The PAF has more than 50 of the Chinese-made aircraft in its fleet.

The losses of F-7PGs/FT-7PGs in air crashes are within limit, aviation experts say.