Spray plane crashes during anti-locust operations in Sadiqabad

SADIQABAD: An airplane on an aerial spray crashed on Sunday in Bandhi district of Sadiqabad, leaving two people dead on board.

The plane crashed near Sadiqabad at Chak No 215, due to a technical failure resulting in the death of two people on board the aircraft. Assistant Commissioner Sadiqabad rushed with rescue teams and heavy police contingents to the aircraft crash spot.

READ MORE: FM embarks on Tehran, Riyadh visit to reduce tensions

According to reports, during the aerial spray, a technical problem developed in the aircraft and the plane crashed to the ground leaving both the pilots dead on the spot in the accident. They were identified as Muhammad Shoaib the pilot, and Fawad Butt as plant protection engineer.

Sadiqabad’s district administration had requested the Punjab government’s aircraft into the area for anti-locust spray. The federal government’s Plant Protection Department had given the plane to the provincial government for use in aerial spray in the province’s anti-locust operations.

READ ALSO: Khurram Dastagir hints at pressure over COAS tenure bills

Swarms of locusts in the Cholistan region of Punjab have swallowed up green plants and shrubs while plants and fruit orchards have been damaged in several parts of Sindh.