Second Major Plane Crash For Pakistani Airlines In Last 4r Years; PK-661 Had Claimed 48 Lives In 2016

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 people had crashed on the way killing all on board.

(File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Second in last four years, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) reported major plane crash incident in Karachi on Friday. According to the reports, a flight carrying 99 passengers and 7 crew members on board from Lahore to Karachi crashed in a residential area near Jinnah International Airport earlier today. According to the Pakistan Media reports, PIA Airbus A320 PK8303 - a 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 fate of the people was not immediately known. The CAA sources said that its communication with the plane was cut off one minute before its landing. Many people are feared to be dead while several houses have been reportedly damaged in the area where the aircraft crashed. Army Quick Reaction Force and Sindh Pakistan Rangers were 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 and carry out rescue efforts. Reports have mentioned that several ambulances and Urban Search and Rescue Teams were also being sent on site to help residents. 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. The airlines had narrowly escaped another incident last year when its aircraft skidded off the runway while landing at Gilgit airport. As per the reports, passengers had remained safe in the accident, but the plane suffered considerable damage.