Funeral services held for PAF Shaheed Pilot

ANKARA, 24 January 2012: Funeral services for Pakistan Air Force pilot Squadron Leader Masood Hussain were held at Izmir Airbase on Monday at 4.00 p.m.

As a mark of close relations between Pakistan and Turkey and high esteem and respect for the Shaheed officer, Turkish Air Chief Gen. Mehmet Ertem specially flew to Izmir to participate in the funeral services. Lt. Col. Demir Omer Ayak, ADC to President Abdullah Gul represented the Turkish President. Land Forces Commander of the Aegean Region, Izmir Air Base Commander and all officers of the Base paid homage to the Shaheed officer.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, Defence and Air Attaché and officers of Pakistan Embassy also attended the funeral services.

Wrapped in Pakistani and Turkish flags, dead body was flown to Pakistan on special plane. Shaheed officer was on exchange posting to Turkish Air Force. His plane has crashed while on a routine training mission, with a Turkish under training pilot.