Islamabad: Pakistan's Air Force chief Mushaf Ali Mir and 16 others on board a military Fokker plane were killed on February 20 when it crashed in a remote region in the North West of the country, the government said.

The plane crashed in bad weather some 70 kms from Kohat in Punjab province and there were no survivors, military spokesman Brig Saulat Raza said.

The wreckage of the aircraft was found near a small town Gumvut in Punjab province, the statement said. An inquiry has been ordered.

Mir, considered to be one of the highly experienced officials of the PAF, was on his way to Kohat to inspect an air base. The plane had taken off from Chaklala air base.

The cause of the crash could not be ascertained immediately and an enquiry has been ordered. Reports reaching here spoke of the skies being overcast.

The vice-chief of the Pakistan Air Force Syed Qaiser Hussain has been appointed acting chief of the Air Force.

PTI