An Airbus A320 belonging to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has crashed in a residential area of Karachi close to the city’s airport. PIA flight PK8303 from Lahore to Karachi departed at approximately 1 pm on Friday and was scheduled to arrive at 2.45 pm. There are reports of between 95 to 100 passengers, as well as up to eight crew members onboard the plane.
The 16-year old aircraft is believed to have crashed into five residential buildings on the edge of Karachi airport. According to local media reports, the city’s mayor claims that there are no survivors. Eyewitnesses have, however, claimed there could be as many as 40 survivors and video footage purportedly from the scene shows some bodies being taken away on stretchers.
Air traffic control recordings suggest the flight crew initially aborted the first attempted landing and then declared “mayday” after one of the pilots reported the plane had “lost both engines”.
PIA is yet to release an official statement about the incident and further details are still being gathered.
