4 years ago
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger plane on Friday crashed near the Jinnah International Airport before landing, according to media reports. Flight PK-303 from Lahore was about to land in Karachi when it crashed at the Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir, just a minute before its landing, the report said. A rescue operation is underway.
"The plane crashed in Karachi. We are trying to confirm the number of passengers but initially it is 99 passengers and eight crew members," said Abdul Sattar Khokhar, the spokesman for the country's aviation authority, adding that the flight was coming from Lahore. Mr Khokhar added that the aircraft was an Airbus A320 and was en route to Karachi.
The crash comes as Pakistanis across the country are preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, with many travelling back to their homes in cities and villages.
Here are the Highlights of the plane crash in Pakistan:
The plane with 99 people on board came for landing but just before landing the pilot said he was going for a go-around. While coming for a second landing, it developed some problems and crashed.
"The real cause of the mishap will be known after inquiry, which will be free and fair and it will be provided with media," he said.
Pakistan's Dunya News said it had obtained a recording of the conversation, also posted on monitoring website liveatc.net.
In it, the pilot says they have "lost two engines". Several seconds later he calls "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" and there is no further communication.
Head Of Pakistan's Bank Of Punjab Among 2 Survivors Of PIA Plane Crash
The head of Pakistan's Bank of Punjab was among two passengers who miraculously survived after a PIA plane carrying 99 people crashed on Friday in a crowded residential area of this port city.
Bank of Punjab Chief Executive Officer Zafar Masud was among the 91 persons travelling in Karachi-bound PIA flight PK-8303 from Lahore, which crashed near the Jinnah International Airport minutes before landing, the Geo News reported.
Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar initially said all aboard died, but two civil aviation officials later said that at least two people survived the crash.
The rescue officials have so far recovered at least 45 dead bodies.
At least 25 houses have been damaged
Faisal Edhi of the Edhi welfare trust told reporters that so far 45 bodies have been recovered. "Our rescue workers have taken out 45 bodies from the remains of the aircraft," he said.
Mr Edhi said that around 25 to 30 residents whose houses were damaged by the plane have also been taken to the hospital, mostly with burn wounds.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Naidu condoles deaths in air crash
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday expressed anguish at the loss of lives in an air crash in Pakistan's Karachi.
"Deeply anguished by the loss of lives in a plane crash in Pakistan. My condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured," the Vice President's Secretariat said in a tweet quoting Mr Naidu.
Residents share horrific experience
Residents near the scene said their walls shook before a big explosion erupted as the aircraft slammed into their neighbourhood.
"I was coming from the mosque when I saw the plane tilting on one side. The engines' sounds were quite weird. It was so low that the walls of my house were trembling," said 14-year-old witness Hassan.
Karachi resident Mudassar Ali said he "heard a big bang and woke up to people calling for the fire brigade".
Airbus A320 and the fuselage had been heavily damaged by the impact
Sarfraz Ahmed -- a firefighter at the crash site -- told news agency AFP the nose of the Airbus A320 and the fuselage had been heavily damaged by the impact, adding that rescuers had pulled four bodies from the wrecked aircraft, including some who were still wearing seat-belts.
Sarfraz Ahmed -- a firefighter at the crash site -- told news agency AFP the nose of the Airbus A320 and the fuselage had been heavily damaged by the impact, adding that rescuers had pulled four bodies from the wrecked aircraft, including some who were still wearing seat-belts.
The pilot of a crashed Pakistan International Airlines jet sent a Mayday and told controllers the aircraft had lost power from both its engines on its second attempt to land, according to a recording posted on monitoring website liveatc.net.
After the aircraft reportedly called off an earlier attempt to land and went around for a second attempt, a controller radioed the pilot of flight 8303 that he appeared to be turning left, suggesting he was off-course.
The pilot replied, "We are returning back, sir, we have lost engines," and the controller cleared the plane to land on either of Karachi airport's two West-Southwest-facing runways. Twelve seconds later the pilot called "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" and was again cleared to use either runway.
President Arif Alvi expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the plane crash incident.
President of the Bank of Punjab Zafar Masood survived the crash. He called up his mother to inform her of his well-being.
"The first priority is to rescue the people. The main hurdle is narrow streets and presence of ordinary people who gathered at the place after the crash but they have been dispersed," the minister said.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho and Saad Edhi, a spokesperson of the Edhi welfare trust, said that 14 bodies have been moved from the crash site to the hospital.
Mr Saad said that around 25 to 30 residents whose houses were damaged by the plane have also been taken to the hospital, mostly with burn wounds.
The minister also said that two passengers have miraculously survived the plane crash with minor injuries.
At least one passenger survived Pakistan plane crash: Government official
At least one passenger survived the crash of a Pakistani airliner that went down on Friday in a residential area of Karachi, a government official said.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah inquired after the health of banker Zafar Mahmood, who miraculously survived, a provincial government spokesman Abdur Rashid Channa said in a statement.
When the chief minister said "Murad is here", the survivor replied, "Thank you so much."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses grief over the plane crash in Pakistan
Deeply saddened by the loss of life due to a plane crash in Pakistan. Our condolences to the families of the deceased, and wishing speedy recovery to those injured.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 22, 2020
Karachi plane crash: a look at the top updates
Karachi plane crash: a look at the top updates
- Plane was carrying 99 people on board crashed
- It crashed into a residential area of the southern city of Karachi
- The plane was close to landing when it came down among houses
- Rescue workers and local residents pulled people from the debris, as firefighters tried to put out the flames.
-The Airbus A320 was travelling from Lahore to Karachi.
Karachi plane crash: a look at the top updates
- Plane was carrying 99 people on board crashed
- It crashed into a residential area of the southern city of Karachi
- The plane was close to landing when it came down among houses
- Rescue workers and local residents pulled people from the debris, as firefighters tried to put out the flames.
-The Airbus A320 was travelling from Lahore to Karachi.
"Shocked And Saddened": Imran Khan Tweets On Plance Crash "Shocked & saddened by the PIA crash. Am in touch with PIA CEO Arshad Malik, who has left for Karachi & with the rescue & relief teams on ground as this is the priority right now. Immediate inquiry will be instituted. Prayers & condolences go to families of the deceased," Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted.
The Pakistan military tweeted that security forces had been deployed to the area and helicopters were being used to survey the damage and help ongoing rescue operations.
It comes just days after the country began allowing commercial flights to resume after planes were grounded during a lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.
Pilot informed of some technical problem: PIA spokesman
"The last we heard from the pilot was that he has some technical problem," PIA spokesman Abdullah H Khan said in a video statement.
"It is a very tragic incident. A senior civil aviation official told Reuters it appeared the plane was unable to open its wheels due to a technical fault prior to landing, but it was to early to determine the cause. Geo TV broadcaster showed crowds near the scene, which appeared to be a densely populated area, and ambulances trying to make their way through.
Minister of Health and Population Welfare has declared emergency in all major hospitals of Karachi after the incident, Dawn news quoted Meeran Yousuf, the media coordinator to the Sindh health minister, as saying.
The plane went down in what seems like a densely populated residential area - Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir - just short of the Karachi airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority sources said that its communication with the plane was cut off one minute before its landing. Several houses have been damaged in the area where the aircraft crashed.
The Pakistani army said its quick reaction force and paramilitary troops have reached the site for relief and rescue efforts alongside civil administration.
"The plane crashed in Karachi. We are trying to confirm the number of passengers but initially it is 99 passengers and eight crew members," said Abdul Sattar Khokhar, the spokesman for Pakistan's aviation authority, adding that the flight was coming from Lahore.
