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Pakistan plane crash: Passenger flight carrying up to 47 people crashes near Abottabad Pakistan plane crash: 'Survivors unlikely' after flight carrying up to 47 people crashes near Abbottabad
(35 minutes later)
A Pakistani plane carrying up to 47 passengers has crashed near Abottabad, a regional police official has said. There are unlikely to be any survivors from a Pakistani plane carrying up to 47 passengers that crashed near Abbottabad, a government official has said.
Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) passenger plane PK 116 was on its way to Islamabad from the northern city of Chitral.Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) passenger plane PK 116 was on its way to Islamabad from the northern city of Chitral.
The Pakistani singer and religious preacher Junaid Jamshed was on the plane when it crashed, Dawn News reports. "All of the bodies are burned beyond recognition. The debris is scattered," Taj Muhammad Khan, a government official based in the Havelian region, told Reuters.
The national flag carrier confirmed in a statement the plane had lost contact with air traffic controllers on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Khan, who was at the site of the crash, added that witnesses told him "the aircraft has crashed in a mountainous area, and before it hit the ground it was on fire".
"PIA's ATR-42 aircraft operating as PK-661, carrying around 40 persons lost its contact with the control tower on its way from Chitral to Islamabad a short while ago," PIA spokesman Daniyal Gilani tweeted. The Pakistani pop star turned evangelical cleric Junaid Jamshed was on the plane when it crashed, according to the plane's passenger manifest.
"All resources are being mobilised to locate the aircraft." Mr Jamshed retired from music in 2001 and announced he was devoting his life to Islam.
Laiq Shah, a senior police official in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province told Reuters by telephone the plane had crashed in that region, near the town of Havelian.Laiq Shah, a senior police official in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province told Reuters by telephone the plane had crashed in that region, near the town of Havelian.
He said ground rescue teams were en route to the crash site. He said ground rescue teams were en route to the crash site. The army said it dispatched troops and helicopters to the location.
Survivors were unlikely, a witness told Reuters, describing many bodies burned beyond recognition. There were no immediate details on casualties but Pakistan's interior ministry dispatched a team with experts on identifying bodies through DNA tests. 
Shortly before the crash was confirmed, Daniyal Gilani, the spokesman for PIA, said their ATR-42 aircraft carrying around 40 passengers and crew had lost touch with the control tower. 
"PIA's ATR-42 aircraft operating as PK-661, carrying around 40 persons lost its contact with the control tower on its way from Chitral to Islamabad a short while ago," Mr Gilani tweeted.
"All resources are being mobilised to locate the aircraft."
Initial reports said there were 37 passengers on the plane, but the civil aviation authority said there were 47 people on board.Initial reports said there were 37 passengers on the plane, but the civil aviation authority said there were 47 people on board.
Geo News and Dawn News TV stations, citing civil aviation sourecs, said the plane lost contact with civil aviation authority at around 4.30pm (11.30 GMT).Geo News and Dawn News TV stations, citing civil aviation sourecs, said the plane lost contact with civil aviation authority at around 4.30pm (11.30 GMT).
Former national cricket captain and founder of the Pakistan Movement for Justice Imran Khan said he was "shocked and saddened" by the crash.
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