DRAFT — for review (not published)
- Suggested slug: qazi-zafar-pilot-jhang-microlight-crash
- Category: National News
- Focus keyphrase: Qazi Zafar pilot microlight crash Jhang
- SEO title: Peshawar Pilot Qazi Zafar Dies in Jhang Air Crash
- Meta description: Qazi Zafar of Peshawar’s well-known Qazi flying family died when his microlight aircraft crashed in Jhang; his companion was critically injured.
- Tags: Qazi Zafar, Peshawar Flying Club, microlight crash, Jhang, Landi Arbab, aviation safety, pilot, Peshawar
- Original element: explainer context — the Qazi family’s four-decade amateur aviation history, from homemade bamboo-and-parachute gliders in the 1980s to Qazi Ajmal’s fatal 2021 gyrocopter crash, all verified in the source report (internal links below)
- Source: Express Tribune — https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635490/peshawar-pilot-dies-in-plane-crash
- Story date: 18 October 2026
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Peshawar Pilot Qazi Zafar Dies in Microlight Crash in Jhang
Qazi Zafar, a pilot from Peshawar’s well-known Qazi family, died on Saturday when his microlight aircraft crashed during a flight in Punjab’s Jhang district.
Zafar was piloting the aircraft when it went down. A friend travelling with him was also on board and sustained serious injuries. Zafar could not survive his wounds and died soon afterwards. Sources said he had returned to Pakistan from abroad only a short while ago.
The death has cast a shadow of grief over the Qazi family and the wider community in Landi Arbab, Peshawar, where the late pilot was from.
Condolences pour in
Former member of the provincial assembly Malik Wajidullah Khan expressed deep sorrow over the death. In a statement, he described Zafar’s sudden death as a painful tragedy that had left the pilot’s family, relatives and local residents in mourning.
“The sudden death of Qazi Zafar is a deeply unfortunate incident. His family, loved ones and the people of the area are grief-stricken. In this hour of sorrow we stand shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved family,” he said.
He prayed for the late pilot’s forgiveness and for patience for those left behind.
A family defined by flight
The crash is the latest tragedy for a family whose name has been tied to amateur aviation in Peshawar for nearly four decades. The Qazi family of Landi Arbab has long been associated with the Peshawar Flying Club, building gliders and piloting small aircraft, but the pursuit has cost the family dearly.
The journey began in the late 1980s, when Qazi Sajjad and his brothers started building homemade gliders out of parachute material and bamboo sticks. Their maiden flight crashed into trees, leaving the pilot seriously injured.
The losses since have been devastating. Qazi Ajmal died in December 2021 when his small gyrocopter crashed into the mountains near Kund Malir in Balochistan. His family said he had been compelled to take off in pitch darkness because of security threats in the area. After that crash, the family announced it would give up flying.
Saturday’s accident in Jhang shows the risks that light-aircraft enthusiasts continue to face in the country. Further details about the cause of the crash are still awaited.
Questions over light-aircraft safety
Microlights and homemade aircraft operate in a lightly regulated space. The Qazi family’s history, from bamboo gliders to a modern microlight, underlines how passion for flight has repeatedly collided with safety in Pakistan’s amateur aviation scene.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Qazi Zafar?
A pilot from the Qazi family of Landi Arbab, Peshawar, long associated with the Peshawar Flying Club and amateur aviation. He had recently returned to Pakistan from abroad.
Where did the crash happen?
In Jhang district, Punjab, on Saturday. A friend on board was critically injured.
What is the Qazi family’s aviation history?
The family began building homemade gliders from parachute material and bamboo in the late 1980s. Qazi Ajmal died in a gyrocopter crash near Kund Malir, Balochistan, in December 2021, after which the family said it would stop flying.
