KARACHI: PIA’s flight No. PK8303 (10-12-year-old Airbus-320) carrying 90 passengers and 8 crew members from Lahore to Karachi crashed one minute before landing on residential area Jinnah Bagh/Ground of Model Colony (Malir) near airport here at 2:39pm today.
This scribe has noted that those who survived were sitting on the front rows: Zafar Masud was sitting on seat No. 1C while another survivor Muhammad Zubair was sitting on seat No. 8F. On the contrary Ansar Naqvi (Director Programs 24 News) was sitting on back seat No. 22C and Zara Abid (Model) was sitting on seat No, 24A. Since the aircraft’s hind part touched the ground first those sitting in the front portion felt lesser shock. Moreover, two survivors either jumped out of the plane or fell out with the jolt. That means there was opening near their seats.
Airbus, the manufacturers of A320, took to the Twitter to confirm the accident:
“We regret to confirm that an A320 operated by Pakistan International Airlines was involved in an accident during flight No. PK8303 from Lahore to Karachi on May, 22 2020. Our thoughts are with all those affected. Airbus is providing assistance to the investigation.All Airbus employees are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of flight No. PK8303. Our thoughts are with all those affected. We are providing assistance to the authorities in the investigation.”
Airbus stated:
“Airbus regrets to confirm that an A320 aircraft operated by Pakistan International Airlines was involved in an accident during flight PK8303 from Lahore to Karachi on May, 22 2020. Initial reports indicate there were 91 passengers and 8 crew members on-board. Our thoughts are with all those affected. At this stage, Airbus has no confirmed information concerning the circumstances of the accident. The aircraft, registration number AP-BLD, Manufacturer Serial Number 2274, first entered service in 2004. It has been in operation with Pakistan International Airlines since 2014. The aircraft had logged around 47 100 flight hours and 25 860 flight cycles as of today. It was powered by CFM56-5B4/P engines. In line with ICAO annex 13, Airbus is providing full technical assistance to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses of France and to the Pakistani Authorities in charge of the investigation. Technical support is also being provided by Pakistan International Airlines and engine manufacturer CFM. Further updates will be provided as soon as further consolidated information is available and Airbus is authorized to release it.”
According to the records the ill-fated aircraft Airbus A320 was used by China Eastern Airlines from 2004 until 2014. It was inducted in PIA’s fleet, leased from GE Capital Aviation Services. Airbus said the plane (harboring The plane had two CFM56-5B4 engines) had logged 47,100 flight hours and 25,860 flights as of 22nd of May, 2020.
PIA has activated its emergency call centre while all the operational staff has been called for duty.
All bereaved families of PIA tragedy may contact the following numbers of the PIA, CAA and Commissioner Karachi:
PIA Emergency call center numbers:
021-99242284
021-99043766
021-99043833
Airport Hotel:
0311-8202494
0334-3795309
0332-2226283
Crash site:
0300-2801833
0322-2380234
From Lahore you can call at:
042-990312153
From Karachi you can call at:
021-99072385
021-99072384.
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According to sources the landing gear of the aircraft jammed. Moreover, there are reports of birds’ collision. It has been insinuated following preliminary probe that both engines (meanwhile temporarily) stopped working and the plane descended. While the aircraft was gliding towards the runway it collided with houses in the populated area below.
According to NPTV correspondent crashed aircraft was engulfed in flames and many houses got damaged while a number of vehicles caught fire due to the impact. Heavy black smoke could be seen from miles. One question needs to be answered: was a 4-storey (floor) building legal or not? Such buildings should be allowed near airports? NPTV sources in SBCA have confirmed that only two floors could be built there and thus the illegal structure could also be blamed for the accident.
KARACHI: Heavy black smoke could be seen from miles.
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Sources in CAA told when in his May Day call pilot Sajjad Gul had informed the control tower about fault in aircraft’s landing gear due to which the wheels were not opening, he was instructed to circle in the air enabling them to figure out the fault.
It transpires by listening to the Pilot’s final dialogue with air traffic control that he had failed to land and was circling to make second attempt:
Pilot: “We are proceeding direct, sir — we have lost engine.”
Air Traffic Controller: “Confirm your attempt on belly.”
Pilot: “Sir, mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday Pakistan 8303”.
Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters were utilized to assess the damage and support rescue operation. Pakistan Army’s Quick Reaction Force and Pakistan Rangers Sindh personnel who arrived at the crash site helped the local administration out. Victims were transported to medical facilities including Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Ruth Pfau, Civil Hospital Karachi.
KARACHI: Pilot of the unfortunate flight number PK8303 Captain Sajjad Gul
KARACHI: Fire tenders reached the place of incident immediately but due to huge crowd found it difficult to maneuver.
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Alphabetic Index of the names of people onboard PIA’s unfortunate flight No. PK8303:
ABDUL FATTAH ELA
ABDUL RAHIM ZAIN
AFZAAL KASHIF
AHMED SHABIR
AHMED RIZWAN
AHMED BILAL
AKBANI YASMEEN
ALI FARWA
ALI ARMAGHAN
ARJUMAND FOUZIA
ASLAM MUHAMMAD
ATTA ULLAH MUHAMMAD
ATTAULLAH RAI
BARKAT ALI NEELAM
BASHARAT FARIHA
BEG MIRZA MUHA
CHAUDHARY HAFSA IMTI
DANISH MEHREEN
DILSHAD BEGUM
DILSHAD AHMED
ERIC SIMON
EYLEEN FARUQUI
FARUQUI ESHMAEL
FARUQUI ENAYA
FAZAL SHEHRYAR
HUMAIRA KARIM
IMRAN SAIMA
IMRAN HUZAIFA
ISHTIAQ AHMED
KHALIDA MRS KHAN
AHMED MUJT
KHATOON RIZWANA
LT BALACH KHA
MAIRAJ NAZIA
MASUD ZAFAR
MEHMOOD SAAD
MEHMOOD TAHIRA
MUHAMMAD MUBASHIR
MUHAMMAD SHOAIB RAZ
MUHAMMAD USMAN POLA
MUHAMMAD SIDIQ POLA
MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM PO
MUHAMMAD ZUBAIR
MUHAMMAD SALEEM QAD
MUHAMMAD ZOHAIB RAZ
MUHAMMAD USAMA SALE
MUSTAFA ALVINA
NAQVI ANSAR
NAVEED KARIM
OGRA PHIRUZE FR
PARVEEN SHAHNAZ
QADIR MASIH
QADIR FARHAN
RAHMAAN WAHIDA
RAHMAAN FAZAL
RAJA ASIF FAYYA
RASHID AMMAR
RASOOL FARYAL
RIFFAT RIDA
SARA ABDUL RAHI
SHABBIR MUHAMMAD
SHAHEER MUHAMMAD
SHAHID KIRAN
SHAHID IQRA
SHAH SYED DANIS
SHEHRYAR ILSA
SHAHRYAR RAYYAN
SHERDIL KAHLID
SURRAIYA KARIM
SYEDA AYESHA ALT
SYED MUHAMMAD A
SYED DANISH ALT
SYED MUHAMMAD A
SYED AIDAN ALTA
TAHIR MUHAMMAD
TAHIR NOSHEEN
TARIQ MUHAMMAD W
TARIQ MAHAN
WAQAS MUAHMMAD A
WAQAS AAIMA
WAQAS NIDA
YAR KHAN MUHAMMAD M
YOUNUS WAQAS
YOUSUF HAMZA
ZAHID KARIM
ZAHRA FATIMA TUL
ZAIN UL ARIF
ZARA ABID
ZEESHAN MALIK MUHA
ZEHRA NAFEES
ZUBAIR MUHAMMAD
KARACHI: Miraculously Zafar Masood President Bank of Punjab was rescued from the burning plane. He sustained fractures and bruises but not burns and is presently under treatment at a local hospice Dar-us-Sehat. According to the hospital administration, his CT scan has been conducted and his condition is out of danger. Zafar Masood happens to be son of celebrated Pakistani performing artist Munawwar Saeed.
KARACHI: Second of the two survivors, Muhammad Zubair (a mechanical engineer) is presently being treated for minor injuries and burns in a medical facility. According to him the plane shook before crashing to the ground.
KARACHI: Sources have informed that Ansar Naqvi, Director Program of 24 News, was also among the voyagers on board the unfortunate flight No. PK8303.
KARACHI: Model Zara Abid was also onboard the unfortunate flight No. PK8303.
KARACHI: Recipient of French award Ordre National du Mérite, Shabir Ahmed, CEO DL Nash was also on board the ill-fated aircraft.
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KARACHI: Reportedly this family from Lahore fell victim to the unfortunate accident.
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Prime Minister Imran Khan took to the Twitter express his grief: “Shocked & saddened by the PIA crash. Am in touch with PIA CEO Arshad Malik, who has left for Karachi & with the rescue & relief teams on ground as this is the priority right now. Immediate inquiry will be instituted. Prayers & condolences go to families of the deceased.”
A number of world leaders took to the Twitter to convey their grief over the tragic accident of Pakistani flag carrier PIA’s passenger plane that claimed 98 lives here today.
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau stated: “The news from Pakistan this morning is devastating. To the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the crash of PK 8303, and to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy, our hearts go out to you. Canadians are keeping you in our thoughts today.”
Indian PM Narendra Modi wrote: “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.”
President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani expressed his sorrow by Tweeting: “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.”
Leader of the Indian Congress party Rahul Gandhi said: “I’m sorry to hear about the air crash in Pakistan in which many lives have been lost. News of survivors is a ray of hope & I pray that there are many miraculous stories of survival tonight. My deepest condolences to the families of those who have perished.”
KARACHI: Chief Executive Officer PIA Air Marshal (Retd.) Arshad Malik stated that Safety Investigation Board would hold a meticulous inquiry into the crash.
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CEO PIA while soeajubg ti tge hiyrbakusta at a OResser Addressing a news conference in Karachi, he said cause of the incident will be ascertained after taking all factors into account for the investigation. He said the crashed plane was technically fit for flying and there was no obvious reason of accident. He said a plane is given clearance only after all technical checks are made.
The PIA CEO said landing of the plane is done after getting clearance from Civil Aviation Authority. He said the airplane of Airbus that crashed was totally fit and safe for flying.
He said PIA pilots are some of the best in the world and cabin crew was also qualified as well as inspection of the plane was regularly done.
Air Marshal Retd. Arshad Malik said rescue operation is in full swing despite night time and technical difficulties of operating in residential area.
He said PIA has vacated its hotels in Karachi to house the relatives of the deceased.
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