PIA plane with 107 aboard crashes near Karachi Airport

KARACHI: A Pakistan Air International (PIA) plane burst into flames after crashing near Karachi Airport on Friday, officials said.

The Karachi-bound plane A-320 which flew from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport went down on residential quarters of adjacent to the airport moments before the landing.

Firefighters, medics and police teams raced to the scene.

There were 100 passengers and eight crew members on board, according to aviation spokesman. Among the passengers were 51 men, 32 women and nine children.

The PK 303 from Lahore to Karachi has crashed just before landing the officials confirm. The Airbus A320 went down onto the residential quarters, houses also damaged. pic.twitter.com/I3gu3kIL9W

— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) May 22, 2020

The exact cause of the crash is still unknown, but sources claim that the plane was unable to touch down as its landing gears failed.

According to reports, PIA Flight PK8303  made a landing attempt at 2.34 pm – this was aborted at 275 feet and the aircraft climbed up to 3,175 feet – it was asked by ATC to do a go-around – the pilot then reported ‘technical difficulties’ – Signal was lost at 2.40 pm at 525 feet.

In a statement, Pakistan army media wing ISPR said Army Quick Reaction Force & Pakistan Rangers Sindh troops reached the crash site for relief and rescue efforts alongside civil administration. 

Pakistan resumed domestic flight operations on May 16 after a shutdown of several weeks & flights are being operated on a reduced basis.

The PIA currently has 31 planes in service of which 12 are A-320s – one of these crashed today near Karachi airport as it was coming in to land.

Update #PIA Incident:
Pak Army Aviation helicopters flown for damage assessment and rescue efforts.
Urban Search & Rescue Teams are being sent on site for rescue efforts.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) May 22, 2020

Ansar Naqvi, Director Programming, Channel 24, is feared to have died in the crash.

Pakistan International Airlines flight #PK8303 from Lahore has crashed during landing in Karachi. The aircraft involved is a 15 year old Airbus A320 with registration AP-BLDhttps://t.co/9UsAUoyUn2

As the flight was tracked with MLAT we only have limited position data. pic.twitter.com/7FWt79V6xs

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) May 22, 2020

Last conversation between pilots and control tower before crash

Last Radio conv of PK8303

Control: appear to be turning left.

Pilot: we are proceeding direct we have lost engine.

Control: runway available to land at 25

Pilot: Roger

Pilot: Sir Mayday Mayday Mayday Mayday akistan 8303

Control: 8303 roger both runways clear to land

پی آئی اے کے حادثے پر ہم سب رنج اور غم کا شکار ہیں۔ جاں بحق مسافروں کو اللہ غریق رحمت کرے اور جنت الفردوس میں جگہ دے۔

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ۔

لواحقین کے لیۓ اللہ سے دعا ہے کہ انکو صبر جمیل عطا فرماۓ۔

اللہ ہم پر رحم کرے۔ آمین

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) May 22, 2020

In a statement, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa expressed his condolence over loss of lives.

“COAS condoles loss of precious lives in tragic PIA plane crash. Shares grief of bereaved families in this difficult time. COAS directed provision of full assistance to civil administration in rescue/ relief effort,” ISPR tweeted. 

According to Geo News, Bank of Punjab President Zafar Masood miraculously survived the crash. He has been shifted to a nearby hospital and is said to be out of danger.

Sources say that the plane’s tail hit the ground first and that could have saved some passengers.