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Pakistan plane crash: Dozens die as jet hits homes in Karachi Pakistan plane crash: Dozens die as jet hits homes in Karachi
(about 1 hour later)
A Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 flying from Lahore has crashed in the densely populated Model Colony residential area of Karachi. A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger plane flying from Lahore has crashed into a residential area of Karachi, killing at least 57 people.
Flight PK8303, carrying 91 passengers and eight crew, was trying to land at Jinnah International Airport. The pilots of flight PK8303, an Airbus A320 carrying 91 passengers and eight crew, were attempting to land at the city's Jinnah International Airport.
Provincial health officials confirmed at least 37 fatalities, but a far higher death toll is feared. At least two passengers survived. The plane had attempted one landing but as it went round again lost its engines and issued a mayday call.
The pilot had reported a loss of engine power and subsequently issued a mayday. At least two passengers are confirmed to have survived the crash.
TV footage showed rescue crews combing through debris strewn across the streets of Model Colony, 3.2km (two miles) north-east of the airport. A number of houses were destroyed. What caused the crash?
The plane lost contact with air traffic control just after 14:30 local time (09:30 GMT), an airline spokesman said. It has yet to be confirmed but here is what we know so far.
Flight PK8303 was approaching Jinnah International Airport at about 14:30 local time (09:30 GMT). It had been given permission to land but the pilots decided to abort and go around for a second attempt.
The reason is not yet known, but one civil aviation official told Reuters the plane may have been unable to lower its undercarriage. Images posted on social media appeared to show scorch marks under both engines, with no undercarriage visible on approach.
Purported audio of the conversation between air traffic control and a pilot for the second attempt was published by Pakistani media outlets, in which the pilot is heard saying the plane has "lost engines". An air traffic controller asks whether it is going to carry out a "belly landing", to which the pilot replies "mayday, mayday, mayday" - the final communication from the plane.
Investigators will try to retrieve the so-called black box recorders to help determine the cause. A committee of investigation has already been set up.
PIA said the plane had joined the fleet in 2014 and passed its annual airworthiness inspection last November.
The crash came just days after Pakistan began allowing commercial flights to resume after a coronavirus lockdown.
Pakistanis across the country are preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan, with many travelling back to their homes in cities and villages.
What happened at the crash scene?
The plane was only just short of the runway perimeter when it struck houses in the Model Colony residential area. TV footage showed rescue crews combing through debris strewn across the streets of the densely populated zone. A number of cars were set on fire.
Eyewitness Mohammed Uzair Khan told the BBC he had heard a massive sound and went outside his home. "Almost four houses were completely collapsed, there was so much fire and smoke," he said. "They are almost my neighbours, I can't tell you what a horrible thing it was."Eyewitness Mohammed Uzair Khan told the BBC he had heard a massive sound and went outside his home. "Almost four houses were completely collapsed, there was so much fire and smoke," he said. "They are almost my neighbours, I can't tell you what a horrible thing it was."
Dr Kanwal Nazim told BBC Urdu she heard people screaming and saw clouds of black smoke rising from the three houses adjoining a mosque. Another resident, Dr Kanwal Nazim, said she heard people screaming and saw clouds of black smoke rising from the three houses adjoining a mosque.
Health officials in Sindh, the province where the plane crashed, said 37 bodies had so far been brought to the Jinnah and Civic hospitals, but it was unknown whether they were passengers or residents. What do we know about the casualties?
The cause of the crash is yet to be confirmed. PIA chief executive Air Vice Marshal Arshad Malik said the pilot had told traffic control that the plane was experiencing "technical difficulties". Local health officials at two hospitals, the Jinnah and Civic hospitals, gave death tolls to the BBC and Pakistani media, adding up to 57 confirmed deaths. But it was not clear how many of the dead were passengers and how many residents on the ground.
Pakistan's Dunya News said it had obtained a recording of the air traffic control conversation, also posted on monitoring website liveatc.net. In the purported recording, the pilot says the plane has "lost two engines". Several seconds later he calls "mayday, mayday, mayday" - the final communication from the plane. Zafar Masud, president of the Bank of Punjab, was among the passengers who survived the crash, a provincial government spokesman said. The other known survivor was named as Muhammad Zubair.
The plane had earlier made one attempt to land but the pilots decided to go around for a second.
Bank of Punjab president Zafar Masud was among the passengers and survived the crash, a Sindh provincial government spokesman said. The other known survivor was named as Muhammad Zubair.
A senior journalist at TV channel 24 News, Ansar Naqvi, was also listed on the passenger manifest.A senior journalist at TV channel 24 News, Ansar Naqvi, was also listed on the passenger manifest.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was "shocked and saddened" by the crash, promising an immediate investigation.Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was "shocked and saddened" by the crash, promising an immediate investigation.
The crash came just days after Pakistan began allowing commercial flights to resume after a coronavirus lockdown.
Pakistanis across the country are preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan, with many travelling back to their homes in cities and villages.
What is Pakistan's safety record like?What is Pakistan's safety record like?
Pakistan has a chequered aviation safety record, including a number of airliner crashes.Pakistan has a chequered aviation safety record, including a number of airliner crashes.
In 2010, an aircraft operated by private airline Airblue crashed near Islamabad, killing all 152 people on board - the deadliest air disaster in Pakistani history.In 2010, an aircraft operated by private airline Airblue crashed near Islamabad, killing all 152 people on board - the deadliest air disaster in Pakistani history.
In 2012, a Boeing 737-200 operated by Pakistan's Bhoja Air crashed in bad weather on its approach to land in Rawalpindi, killing all 121 passengers and six crew.In 2012, a Boeing 737-200 operated by Pakistan's Bhoja Air crashed in bad weather on its approach to land in Rawalpindi, killing all 121 passengers and six crew.
And in 2016, a Pakistan International Airlines plane burst into flames while travelling from northern Pakistan to Islamabad, killing 47 people.And in 2016, a Pakistan International Airlines plane burst into flames while travelling from northern Pakistan to Islamabad, killing 47 people.
Are you in Karachi? Did you witness the crash? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Karachi? Did you witness the crash? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.