At least 33 people who died in the plane crash on Wednesday early morning in Islamabad were identified as residents of Karachi. Sources in the aviation sector believe the number of victims belong to Karachi in the country's worst aviation crash, is estimated much higher. However, the officials, so far, avoided providing details about the victims' identity, saying they had received a little information as yet.
Two pilots and four cabin crew of the unfortunate plane Airbus A321 are also believed to be hailing from Karachi, according to GM Airblue, Raheel Ahmed. A special flight of the Airblue carrying about hundred relatives of the victims departed for Islamabad at 8:30pm to identify the corpses, he said, adding that the Airblue management was gathering information of the victims.
Pilot was identified as Iqbal Pervez Chaudhry and co-pilot as Muntajib along air hostesses Um-e-Juba and Naheed Bhatti, Shazia Razzaq and Hina Usman were the crew, are were also among the 152 dead. Four of a family of an FIA inspector Rehmatullah Domki fell prey to the plane crash, who were flying to Islamabad for recreational purpose. They are: Moona wife of Rehmatullah, his son, Mir Tur Khan, two daughters Mehleej and Afshan.
A couple, Owais and Romisa were travelling to spend vacations in the federal capital expired in the crash. A staff member of a private media consultant firm, Ali Sherazi died in the crash, left the city for attending official meeting in Islamabad.
Director Sindh Workers Welfare Board, Saleem Zafar also lost his life in the aviation incident while travelling to attend a meeting. A student of Karachi University, Bilal Jami and Owais Bin Laiq a nephew of a former MPA, Nasrullah Khan Shaji, were members of youth parliament and travelling to attend a meeting. Prime Minister youth parliament Hassan Javed Khan, Minister for Information, Syeda Rubab Zuhra and a member Arsalan Ahmed are among the dead.
Honda Site Owner Ali Asghar Rajab Ali was also travelling along with his nephew and sister, besides a worker of Islami Jamiat Talba, Asim Arien also died in the plane crash. President Cable Operators Association (Sindh chapter) Saleem Akhtar, besides Chairman Oil Tankers Association, Afzal Mehsud and the association member Ainullah Aga along three others whose name could not be ascertained died in the crash.
Representative of the Al-Mustafa Welfare Society, Atif Rasheed besides a soccer player, Mishi Dawood had to participate in the football event in Islamabad also lost life to the incident. A newly wed couple, Saleem and his wife, an American citizen, Rossi also became victims of the tragedy. Both were flying to the federal capital to get American visa, sources said.
There are always exceptions, this time too. Mir Mehran Khan Bijarani and Salman Khan Bijarani- who are believed the cousins of federal minister, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, missed the unfortunate flight for coming late to airport, thus luckily escaped the deadly crash.
Chief of Edhi foundation, Abdul Sattar Edhi said his foundation would arrange the return of bodies to Karachi. The city government has also set up a control room in the DCO camp office to provide details about the victims of plane crash. The civic administration also dispatched all official ambulances to Karachi airport to carry bodies to their homes.