Pakistan passenger plane with 107 on board crashes in Karachi

Many people are feared dead after a Pakistan International Airlines PIA plane with 107 people on board crashed into a densely populated residential area near the Jinnah International Airport here on Friday officials said nearly a week after commercial flights were resumed on a limited scale amidst the COVID19 pandemic in the countryFlight PK8303 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 they said The PIA Airbus A320 carrying 99 passengers and eight crew members has crashed landed into the Jinnah housing society located near the airport a spokesperson of the state carrier saidThe captain informed the air traffic tower he having problems with the landing gear before disappearing from the radariquest he said There is no confirmation on casualties so far but many are feared dead Pakistani media reportedPresident Arif Alvi expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the plane crash incident Prime Minister Imran Khan while expressing deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives as a result of the PIA passenger plane crash in Karachi has ordered an immediate inquiry into the incidentShocked amp saddened by the PIA crash Am in touch with PIA CEO Arshad Malik who has left for Karachi amp with the rescue amp relief teams on ground as this is the priority right now Immediate inquiry will be instituted Prayers amp condolences go to families of the deceasedmdash Imran Khan ImranKhanPTI May 22 2020Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa condoled the loss of lives and directed the military to provide full assistance to the civil administration in rescue and relief efforts The flight PK 803 was coming from Lahore to Karachi after the Civil Aviation Authority CAA allowed limited resumption of domestic flights last Saturday following weeks of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemicTelevision 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 However there were contradictory reports about the exact number of people on board the planeSenior Joint Secretary Aviation Sattar Khokhar told Pakistan Television that 99 passengers and eight crew members were on board but PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said that there were 91 passengers and seven flight crewThe plane lost contact with the airport at 237 PM local time Hafeez said adding that it was too early to say about the technical problems faced by the plane It was not immediately known how many people were injured on the ground Media reports showed that up to 10 houses and some vehicles were damagedAviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar said that the landing gear of the plane was not working PIA Chairman Arshad Malik said that the pilot told the control tower about having a technical problem The pilot was informed that two airports were available for landing he decided to go for a round and crashed 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 GulA resident of the colony who witnessed the crash told Ary News channel that the aircraft had fire coming from its wings which crashed into rooftops of some houses before it crash landed It is too early to say how many people have died in this tragic accident but it will be a miracle if the passengers and crew members have survived this horrible landing a senior police official said on condition of anonymityKarachi A Pakistan International Airlines PIA flight carrying close to 100 people from Lahore to Karachi crashes near a residential colony near Karachi airport pictwittercomelZsBdrYlemdash ANI ANI May 22 2020This is the first major aircraft crash in Pakistan after December 7 2016 when a PIA ATR42 aircraft from Chitral to Islamabad crashed midway The crash claimed the lives of all 48 passengers and crew including singercumevangelist Junaid JamshedAll my prayers are with the families We will continue to provide information in a transparent manner Hafeez said Footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the site of the crash Ambulances and rescue officials arrived at the scene to help residentsA statement by the Pakistan Armys media wing InterServices Public Relations ISPR said that Army Quick Reaction Force and Sindh Pakistan Rangers reached the spot for carrying out rescue and relief operations alongside civil administrationPakistan Army Aviation helicopters have also flown for damage assessment and rescue efforts Minister of Health and Population Welfare has declared an emergency in all major hospitals of Karachi after the incidentCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram 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