A Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 has reportedly crashed near Karachi. The Airbus A320 aircraft, which according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), was said to be carrying 90 passengers and eight crew, was on route from Lahore to Jinnah International Airport.
According to report, the pilots had declared a “may-day may-day” to air traffic control adding “we are proceeding direct, we have lost engines“. Shortly after, the aircraft crashed and burst into flames in the neighbourhood of the Malir Cantonment: Jinnah Garden (Model Colony), a residential area just east of the airport.
Many Footage shared on social media shows destroyed buildings, plumes of smoke and homes engulfed in flames.
The BBC, however, reports that emergency services are in attendance, and a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Army Quick Reaction Force and Sindh Pakistan Rangers have arrived on site to assist in rescue efforts. There is no word yet on casualties.
A PIA spokesman said that the aircraft carried 99 passengers and 8 crew members.
Last communication between pilots and air traffic control:
ATC: appear to be turning left
Pilot: we are proceeding direct we have lost engines
ATC: runway available to land at 25
Pilot: Roger
Pilot: Sir Mayday Mayday Mayday Mayday Pakistan 8303
ATC: 8303 Roger both runways available to land
An eyewitness also narrates that an engine was on fire prior to the crash, saying,
“I saw the PIA plane with one engine on fire and suddenly there was blast and the aircraft fell on houses in the area. At least six to eight houses are on fire while rescue teams are struggle to make way through narrow streets to rescue people.
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