An Islamabad-bound Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight with 47 passengers on board crashed near Abbottabad on Wednesday.
PK-661 departed from Chitral at 3:30pm and disappeared from the air control radar soon after take off. There were 47 people, including 5 crew members on board the aircraft.
“We regret to inform that PIA’s ATR-42 aircraft operating as PK-661, carrying around 40 persons lost its contact with control tower on its way from Chitral to Islamabad a short while ago. All resources are being mobilised to locate the aircraft. Media will be kept informed as situation develops,” PIA spokesperson Danial Gilani said in a statement.
“PIA’s emergency response center has been activated and can be accessed at following phone numbers for updates: 0092-21-99044890, 0092-21-99044376 and 0092-21-99044394,” he added.
Further, the DPO Abbottabad confirmed the aircraft crashed near Havelian between Majab and Piplian.
Meanwhile, military’s media wing ISPR said the army dispatched troops and helicopters to the crash site for rescue efforts.
Earlier in October, a pilot of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was killed as his Mirage jet crashed near Karachi’s Musharraf Colony. According to Squadron leader Baqir Ali, PAF Mirage jetbearing tale number 921 took off from Masroor Base, before it crashed near Musharraf Colony. The pilot died on the spot, police officials stated.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
Via The Express Tribune
