One of the two survivors of the Pakistan plane crash near Karachi said the flight proceeded normally until its descent, when there was a sudden jolt.
When the plane jolted violently, Mohammad Zubair thought it was turbulence. Then the pilot came on the intercom to warn that the landing could be “troublesome.”
The plane crashed at 2:39 p.m. near Jinnah International Airport, in the poor and congested residential area known as Model Colony. Pakistan International Airlines spokesman Abdullah Hafiz Khan said the aircraft destroyed or heavily damaged 18 homes.Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Abdul Sattar Kokhar said the Airbus A320 was carrying 91 passengers and eight crew members. The only other survivor of the crash was Zafar Masood, a bank executive.
Pakistan had only earlier this week resumed domestic flights ahead of Eid-al Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Many of the passengers aboard the flight were families returning home for the holiday, said Science Minister Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry.“What is most unfortunate and sad is whole families have died, whole families who were traveling together for the Eid holiday,” he told the Associated Press.
Pakistan has been in a countrywide lockdown since mid-March because of the coronavirus, and when flights resumed every other seat was left vacant to promote social distancing.Southern Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, is the center of Pakistan’s outbreak, with nearly 20,000 of the country’s more than 50,000 cases. Pakistan has reported 1,101 deaths from the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus.
Airworthiness documents showed the plane last received a government check on Nov. 1, 2019. Pakistan International Airlines’ chief engineer signed a separate certificate April 28 saying all maintenance had been conducted. It said, “the aircraft is fully airworthy and meets all the safety” standards.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Turbulence, warnings before Pakistan plane crash killed 97When the plane jolted violently, Mohammad Zubair thought it was turbulence. Moments later, the Pakistan International Airlines flight crashed into a crowded neighborhood near Karachi&39;s international airport, killing 97 people, all of whom are believed to be passengers and crew members. Meeran Yousaf
Read more »
Turbulence, warnings before Pakistan plane crash killed 97One of two survivors of the Pakistan plane crash that killed 97 people said the flight was normal until its descent, when there was a sudden jolt. The plane slammed into a crowded neighborhood right after the pilot warned of a “troublesome' landing.
Read more »
Pakistan plane crash black box found after 97 killedRescue crews have retrieved the data recorder from the Pakistan International Airlines plane that crashed on Friday, killing at least 97 passengers and crew members.
Read more »
Just two survivors in Pakistan plane crash; bodies of 97 passengers and crew recovered97 bodies have been pulled from rubble in Karachi, Pakistan, where a plane crashed Friday. All are believed to be passengers and crew. Two survived.
Read more »
Pakistan plane crash leaves 97 dead with two survivorsPakistan had resumed domestic flights earlier this week ahead of Eid al Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan after a countrywide Covid-19 lockdown since mid-March, Airbus says it would provide technical assistance to investigators.
Read more »
Mayor: Pakistan plane crash kills all 107 people onboardA passenger plane belonging to state-run Pakistan International Airlines crashed near the southern port city of Karachi on Friday, killing all 107 passengers...
Read more »