PIA Passenger Plane Crashes in Model Colony near Karachi Airport

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger plane crashed a minute before landing in a residential area near Karachi Jinnah International Airport.

It is estimated that the aircraft carried 97 people, including 85 passengers and 12 crew members.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, PIA flight PK-8303 from Lahore was about to land in Karachi when it crashed in the Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir.

CAA sources said its communication was cut off a minute before the plane took off. Soldiers quickly escorted the Pakistan Army's Quick Response Force and Pakistan Rangers Sindh to the aid of civil administration in relief and rescue efforts.

Many houses were damaged in the area where the plane crashed. The ambulance faced difficulty as the roads were quite narrow and the heavy presence of people made it difficult to continue relief operations.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said the airline was receiving the information in real-time. He said Air Marshal Arshad Malik was reaching Karachi to assess the situation in two hours.

He said it was premature to point out any technical faults in the aircraft and an independent body would conduct an investigation to find out the cause of the accident.

Hafeez said that the PIA will soon hold a detailed press conference to share details of the accident.

Rescue sources said 15-20 people have been helped from under the rubble. Eight persons have been injured for medical treatment and have been shifted to the hospital.

The body of a 5-year-old man and another person were recovered from the scene of the incident. SSP Malir said, 'Due to congestion we are facing difficulties in carrying out relief operations.' 'People should avoid gathering at the accident site,' he said.

Senior journalist Ansar Naqvi, who used to work for The News and is currently working for Channel 24 as its director of programming, also died in the accident.

Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa mourned the loss of life and property in the plane crash. The army chief directed the provision of full assistance to the civil administration in rescue and relief efforts.

The PIA has released a passenger manifesto according to which the PK-8303 flight consisted of 51 men, 31 women, and nine children.

Fateh Elahi, Rahim Zain, Kashif Shabbir Ahmed, Rizwan Ahmed, and Bilal Ahmed are to name a few travelers. Yasmin Iqbani, Farwa Ali, Armaghan Ali, Fauzia Arjumand, Mohammad S. Aslam, Mohammed Ataullah, and Rai Ataullah also boarded the plane.