A Pakistan International Airlines flight with 95 passengers onboard has crashed into houses in Karachi, according to Pakistani media reports.
Pakistan’s Sindhnews reported that the plane crashed in the Model Colony area of Karachi, with 95 passengers on board.
However, subsequent reports upped the number to “over 100.”
“The plane crashed in Karachi. We are trying to confirm the number of passengers but initially it is 99 passengers and eight crew members,” said Abdul Sattar Khokhar, the spokesman for the country’s aviation authority, adding that the flight was coming from Lahore.
The plane is believed to be a PIA PK 320 Airbus, said the UK’s Daily Star.
GeoNews quoted Civil Aviation Authority sources as saying that the crash happened near to Jinnah International Airport on Friday.
On Twitter, user @YusraSAskari posted unverified footage which claimed to show the smoke coming from the crash.
Dark plumes of smoke seen near the crash site. #PIA #ModelColony #MalirCantt #Karachi pic.twitter.com/bLBCmG1dXf
— Yusra Askari (@YusraSAskari) May 22, 2020
Video taken from the area of Karachi where the PIA flight went down pic.twitter.com/DvcP442v1P
— Intel Air & Sea (@air_intel) May 22, 2020
The plane crashed into houses.
— WPCION Pakistan & International (@WPCION) May 22, 2020
Video:-#PIA #Karachi https://t.co/D59xl86jgO pic.twitter.com/BFknO6RrVt
According to CAA sources, the pilot of the plane reported some technical fault to the authorities and disappeared from the radar just before landing at the Karachi International Airport.
Developing story…
