KHYBER AGENCY - A Pakistan Air Force fighter jet crashed in Sapari area of tehsil Jamrud Saturday, killing the pilot, the air force said in a statement.

The forces sources said on Saturday that the fighter jet F-7 PG was on a routine operational training mission when the accident happened in mountainous area of Sapari of Khyber Agency.

Pilot of the crashed plane, Flight Lieutenant Umar Shehzad embraced martyrdom in the incident, sources confirmed.

According to air force sources, the untoward happening seems to be occurred due to technical fault. An inquiry board had been set up to find out the real cause behind the crash. The administration and forces officials reached the site and collected evidence, sources said.

The crash caused no civilian injuries on the ground.

Armed forces have had several air accidents in the past 18 months, including a crash that killed female jet pilot in another training exercise in November.

In May 2015, a military helicopter carrying diplomats to inspect a tourism project crashed, killing seven people, including the ambassadors of Norway and Philippines.

Another military helicopter being used as an air ambulance crashed in August 2015 near Mansehra, killing 12 people.