Pakistani jet crashes killing first female pilot

Marium Mukhtiar is the first female pilot of the Pakistan air force to be killed while on duty

The aircraft crashed near the central town of Mianwali in Pakistan (AFP/Getty Images)

A Pakistani woman has become the country's first female pilot to be killed after her trainer jet crashed.

Marium Mukhtiar died after a fault on the F-7 aircraft she was in occurred.

Both of the plane's pilots were able to leave the aircraft, which then crashed near the central town of Mianwali, according to the Pakistan Air Force.

Ms Mukhtiar - whose name is also being spelt as Maryam Mukhtar on social media - died from her injuries, while the jet's second pilot, Saqib Abbasi is reportedly in intensive care.

The air force said: “Squadron Leader Saqib Abbasiand Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar were on a routine operational training missing when it encountered a serious in-flight emergency during the final stages of the mission.

“Ensuring safety of life and property of civilian population on ground, both the pilots ejected and the aircraft crashed near Kundian, Mianwali.”

It said Ms Mukhtiar was the first female pilot of the Pakistan Air Force to be killed while on duty.

The air force had 19 women pilots in 2013, the last year for which the figure was immediately available.

Additional reporting by Reuters