New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed condolences on learning about the Pakistan International Airlines plane crash near Karachi airport. He extended his warm solidarity to the families of the deceased, and wishing speedy recovery to those injured in the major mishap.


Taking to the micro blogging site, Prime Minister tweeted "Deeply saddened by the loss of life due to a plane crash in Pakistan. Our condolences to the families of the deceased, and wishing speedy recovery to those injured."


His post came after a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane with nearly 100 passengers and 8 crew members on board crashed in a residential area near the Karachi Airport on Friday.

Reports say PK8303 - special flight run for Eid amid Coronavirus pandemic - was flying from Lahore to Karachi and came down plunging in Model colony near Karachi airport 10 minutes before landing.

The early clips and pictures shared on social media show smoke billowing from the site of the crash. For the early measures, Army Quick Reaction Force and Sindh Pakistan Rangers have been rushed to the site for relief and rescue efforts alongside civil administration. Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters have also reached the site to assess the damage assessment and carry out rescue efforts.

Today's tragic incident is the second plane crash for Pakistani International Airlines in less than four years. On December 6, 2016, PIA flight PK-661 carrying 48 passengers and crew members flying from Chitral to Islamabad had crashed on the way killing all on board.

Following the incident, airline’s chairman had resigned in less than a week after the crash of an ATR-42 aircraft.