At Least 50 Killed In Passenger Plane Crash In Pakistan's Karachi, 3 Survive
Rescuers have shifted at least 50 bodies and seven injured to two hospitals in Karachi. At least three people survived, including chief of the Bank of Punjab. Black box of the plane has been found and it will be sent abroad for decoding.
Saturday 23 May 2020 | 09:34
Rescuers work at the plane crash site in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Stringer)
A total of 50 bodies and seven injured people have been recovered and shifted to two hospitals after a passenger plane crashed in a residential area in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi Friday, police sources and rescuers said.
Police sources told Xinhua that the deceased would be identified through DNA tests.
Minister of Health of the southern Sindh province Azra Fazal Pechuho told local media that at least three people survived the fatal accident, including chief of the Bank of Punjab.
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She also told Xinhua that she has declared an emergency in all major hospitals of Karachi and canceled leaves of all medics to join their duties.
Briefing Xinhua about the cause of crash, Ismail Khoso, spokesman of the country's Civil Aviation Authority said that the plane of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airbus A320, with some 100 people on board, crashed shortly before landing at Karachi airport on Friday afternoon.
A man mourns following the plane crash at a hospital in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Stringer)
Pakistani President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed sorrow over the plane crash and loss of precious lives.
The prime minister through Twitter expressed condolences to families of the deceased, saying that an immediate inquiry would be instituted to know the cause of the crash.
Earlier, on Dec. 7, 2016, an ATR-42 aircraft of the PIA crashed en route from northern Chitral district to capital Islamabad, claiming lives of all 48 passengers and crew members onboard.
