A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight carrying 99 and eight crew members crashed in the Model Colony near the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Friday.
The flight PK-8303 was an Airbus A-320 and was travelling from Lahore to Karachi. It was reportedly minutes away from landing, and, according to a PIA spokesperson, the pilot told air traffic control that he had problems with the landing gear. "The captain informed the air traffic tower he having problems with the landing gear before disappearing from the radar," the spokesperson said.
An emergency has been declared in all the hospitals in Karachi due to the crash, which took place in a residential area.
الله پاک رحم کرے آمین.#planecrash pic.twitter.com/9btl5vdjQy
— Murtaza Mubejo (@MurtazaPPP) May 22, 2020
Television channels showed several houses and cars damaged in the society where the aircraft crashed.
Rescue and police officials confirmed that at least four bodies have been recovered from damaged houses so far while several injured people were also being taken to hospitals.
The Pakistan Army and the Air Force have sent their teams for carrying out rescue and relief operations, the CAA said.
The PIA aircraft was flown by Captain Sajjad Gul.
The spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces tweeted saying that Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters had been flown for damage assessment and rescue efforts, and said that search and rescue teams were being sent on site for rescue efforts.
Pakistan's Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan has ordered the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to conduct an "immediate inquiry" into the crash.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his condolences for the families of the deceased.
"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," Khan tweeted.
The flight took place after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) allowed limited reception of domestic flights just few days back after weeks of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2016, another PIA aircraft, flight PK-661 from Chitral to Islamabad, crashed near Abbotabad killing all 47 people on board.
With inputs from PTI
