Rescue workers gather at the site after a Pakistan International Airlines flight crashed in a residential neighbourhood in Karachi on May 22, 2020. – A Pakistan passenger plane with more than 100 people believed to be on board crashed in the southern city of Karachi on May 22, the country’s aviation authority said. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP)
Karachi plane crash: Passenger jet comes down in a residential area
A Pakistan passenger plane with 98 people believed to be on board crashed in the southern city of Karachi on 22 May, the country’s aviation authority reported.
Rescue workers gather at the site after a Pakistan International Airlines flight crashed in a residential neighbourhood in Karachi on May 22, 2020. – A Pakistan passenger plane with more than 100 people believed to be on board crashed in the southern city of Karachi on May 22, the country’s aviation authority said. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP)
A passenger plane carrying 98 people has crashed into a residential area in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi.
The aircraft was just minutes from landing at the Jinnah International Airport when it came down slamming into houses and other buildings.
Many feared dead after horrific crash in Karachi
The crash site was made harder to reach by the shear devastation left in the wake of the crash, with electricity wires knocked down and fires raging throughout the neighbourhood.
Videos of the aftermath of the crash have surfaced on social media although authorities have been doing their utmost to prevent images of the crash being filmed.
Firefighters are engaged in a desperate battle to extinguish the flames to allow rescuers to reach the crash site.
Despite the horrific scene painted by the images and reports coming out of Karachi it has been rumoured that some passengers on board the Pakistan International Airlines flight have survived.
Some of the people on board were travelling home to Karachi from Lahore after two months of being stuck in lockdown, when tragedy struck.
The pilot of the downed PIA flight reportedly contacted the airport advising he was experiencing technical difficulties according to the arileine’s CEO Arshad Malik.
The fire an impact of the crash has also put the lives of many people on the ground at risk and rescuers are engaged in a desperate scramble to ensure as many lives as possible are saved.
“The concern now is of casualties of people in the area. Rangers and rescue services have been sent, we are trying to save as many lives as possible,” Sindh Governor Imran Ismail told the press on Friday 22 May.
Plane was on fire before it crashed
Witnesses to the crash say that the plane was on fire before it crashed into a densely populated area in Karachi.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez confirmed the crash, adding that the A320 Airbus, flight PK 8303, was carrying 90 passengers and 8 crew members from Lahore to Karachi.
Hafeez was unable to comment on why the plane crashed into a densely populated area while the pilot still had some semblance of control of the aircraft.
“Our crew is trained to handle emergency landings. All my prayers are with the families. We will continue to provide information in a transparent manner,” said Hafeez.
At least two prominent Pakistani’s were on board the ill-fated flight including Bank of Punjab President Zafar Masood and Director of Programming at 24 News Ansar Naqvi.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan confirmed that an inquest would be opened into the cause of the crash.
“Shocked and saddened by the PIA crash,” Khan Tweeted on Friday.
“[I] am in touch with PIA CEO Arshad Malik, who has left for Karachi and with the rescue and relief teams on the ground as this is the priority right now.
“Immediate inquiry will be instituted. Prayers and condolences go to families of the deceased.”
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