Pakistan Airlines International

Passenger Plane Crashes in Karachi

A Pakistan Airlines International aircraft with around 99 passengers onboard crashed in the southern port city of Karachi on Friday.

According to local media, the plane was flying from Lahore to Jinnah International Airport, one of Pakistan’s busiest airports. 

The state carrier said flight PK 8303 had crashed with 99 passengers and eight crew members on board.

“The last we heard from the pilot was that he has some technical problem,” PIA spokesman Abdullah H Khan said in a video statement. “It is a very tragic incident.”

The plane was about to land when it crashed near Model Colony, a residential area of Karachi about 3.2km (two miles) north-east of Jinnah International Airport.

Local TV station Geo showed crowds near the scene which appeared to be a densely populated area and ambulances trying to make their way through. It also showed black smoke billowing above buildings.

The crash comes just days after the country began allowing commercial flights to resume after a coronavirus lockdown.

Local reports said that the aircraft is an Airbus A320. 

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