A plane has crashed in the city of Karachi, Pakistan.
News reports trickling in indicate that the plane belonging to the Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) happened just days after the country resumed commercial flights after COVID-19 interruptions.
Lahore to Karachi
The plane in question was an Airbus A 320, owned by the Pakistan State. It was registered under the number PK 8303.
Flight 8303 had on board 99 passengers and eight crew members and was travelling from Lahore to Karachi.
Officials say that the crash happened when the plane came down on houses in the Model Colony area in Karachi City just before landing after encountering technical difficulties.
According to Pakistan Civil Aviation authorities, there have been at least two survivors from the crash.
Technical fault
The Karachi authorities revealed that the pilot had called in ‘mayday,’ saying he had lost an engine. Other sources state that the pilot had said that he lost two engines.
PIA Chairman Arshad Malik added more to this, saying that the pilot had decided to go around after declaring he had a problem.
“The last voice we heard of the captain was, ‘we have a problem.’ He said this on his final approach. We told him he was okay to land, but he decided to go around.” Malik said. However, they said they would investigate further on the matter.
Karachi Mayor said that the plane decimated at least five or six houses when it crashed, raising the possibility of the number of casualties being higher.
'Mayday, mayday…'- Pakistan plane's last message from the pilot.
In the mayday call, the pilot can be heard saying that the plane has lost its engines.
There are 'no survivors' after the plane crash in Karachi, read more here: https://t.co/Xu6ZzKS2CE pic.twitter.com/mIraPV8SXb
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) May 22, 2020
Densely populated area
The Model Colony in Karachi, is a densely populated area, with many people living in close quarters in small spaces.
Footages from the area in Karachi showed decimated buildings, with the plane parts strewn all over the place. Large, dark clouds of smoke billowed ominously over buildings, bearing the haunting sight of the tragedy.
BREAKING: A Pakistan International Airlines plane with 107 people on board has crashed in Karachi. It is feared there may be more casualties as the plane came down on houses in the Model Colony area in the city.
Read more here: https://t.co/1YmJEDMU3D pic.twitter.com/ivYEYr1731
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) May 22, 2020
