PIA plane carrying 99 on-board crashes in Karachi

• The plane was scheduled to land at Jinnah International Airport when it developed some technical fault.
• The flight PK-8303 was enroute from Lahore to Karachi.
• There were 91 passengers and eight crew members on board the aircraft
• At least 35 dead bodies shifted to Jinnah and Civil hospitals: Initial report.

Karachi) A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight crashed near Karachi's Model Colony area, media reported on Friday. The flight PK-8303 was enroute from Lahore to Karachi.

As per details, the plane, A320 Airbus, was carrying 91 passengers and eight crew members and was scheduled to land at Jinnah International Airport when it developed some technical fault.

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A conversation which was aired on media channels transpired the flight captain told the control tower that "We have lost engines" and he is going for belly landing. Soon after the said conversation, the control tower lost contact with the pilot.

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There are reports that at least five homes and some vehicles have been destroyed during the crash incident. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has declared an emergency at the airport after the incident.

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DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar said that Army's Quick Response Force and Rangers personnel have reached the crash site. He added the civil administration, Rangers and Pakistan Army are busy in relief and rescue operation.

Four fire tenders of Pakistan Bahria are also on the site to extinguish the blaze.

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According to initial reports, 35 dead bodies have been retrieved from the crash site while injured have been shifted to Jinnah and Civil hospitals for treatment.

President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has expressed grief over the deaths in the incident and prayed that May Allah Almighty give the victim's families more courage and strength to bear the tragic loss.

The PM also ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The Safety Investigation Board of the CAA has recovered the aircraft's black box and took it in its custody.

Speaking to media, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Executive Director Seemi Jamali said that it is impossible to identify the burnt bodies. She added the identification will only be possible after conducting DNA test of the victims.

Meanwhile, Sindh Government Spokesperson Nasir Hussain Shah has said that it is early to comment on the number of casualties. He pointed out that a help desk has been formed at Karachi commissioner's office and details related to the incident could be collected from there.