It was hard for me to wake up to this news today.
Not because we lost a jet, but the pilot itself.
Block 70's will come, Nauman Akram will not.
I would urge all members to not reach conclusions and try to hold PAF accountable for 'using' F-16. It has been a tradition since decades and we all have enjoyed it without asking any questions before. USAF fields F-22's and RAF is using F-35's now after showcasing Typhoons. It is an absurd notion to disinvent this idea of F-16s in a parade just because something supposedly 'unthinkable' happened.
It was never unthinkable. Whenever these guys up there they know the risk. They perceive, understand and accept it. It is our emotional attachment with the F-16 as forum members which is sparking all this debate.
Every once in a while, history is made, machines malfunction, people are lost. This is exactly what has happened.
Nothing wrong with speculating 'what went wrong'. It appears to be a classic G LOC case (if not pilot error). However, until black box is decoded, verified and accident investigated, we cannot say for sure what happened.
Accept it. Stay humble. And move on.