Islamabad Air Blue Plane Crash Special Coverage

Plane crash: 58 bodies handed to bereaved families
ISLAMABAD: At least 58 of 152 killed in the plane crash in Islamabad have been identified thus far and handed over to the bereaved families, Geo News reported Thursday.

The bodies brought to the PIMS Hospital, were mostly in parts and pieces, garnered from the crash site.

Those identified are Maulana Nawabul Hasan of Attaock, Ghulam Rasool, Prem Chand, Airhostess Naheed Bhatti, Sumaira Munawwar, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mona, Amir, Afshan and Mehlee Domki.

The bodies of Piyar Ali, Sapna Munawwar, Munawwar, Maulana Nawabul Hasan and Abdur Raheem have been given in the custody of the relative family members.

The PIMS Hospital officials said a team of 50 doctors has been constituted to identify the bodies.

Meantime, according to Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik, the body parts beyond recognition are being DNA tested today.

Chief Commissioner Islamabad said the DNA test process would take a week to complete; afterwards, the bodies would be handed to the grief-struck families.

An Information Desk has been set up at PIMS Hospital to provide information to the bereaved families of the crash victims.

Meantime, the federal capital continues to intermittently receive light to heavy showers, posing hardships in rescue and search operation in Margalla Hills—the crash site. However, the personnel from Pak Army, Capital Development Authority, and Police continued somehow the Search and Rescue operation despite the height of the crash site and the possibility of presence of wreckage in the deep gorge.

The officials said the remains and wreckage of the plane scattered on the abutting peaks and in the deep gorges, where relief workers are scrambling to collect the articles of the deceased passengers. At the same time, the search for the black box is underway.

46 bodies of crash victims identified

ISLAMABAD: At least 46 bodies of plane crash victims have been identified and handed the same over to their heirs while many charred bodies are still kept at PIMS Hospital whose identification will be determined through DNA tests, Geo News reported Thursday morning.

Federal Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik said DNA tests would be conducted today.

Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner Islamabad said it will take one complete week at least to complete DNA tests.

Earlier, Pakistani health officials said Wednesday they would have to use DNA tests to identify charred bodies plucked from the wreckage of an airliner that crashed into hills outside Islamabad.

"Most of the dead bodies are in pieces, only body parts, some of them badly burnt... these can only be identified through DNA," Mahmood Jamal, chief of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) told reporters.

Officials said rescue workers had collected body parts and pieces of charred flesh into bags.

"Some 300 body bags, 40 blankets and 10 bundles of rope have been air dropped at the crash site," said the national disaster management authority.

America stands with Pakistan after plane crash: Obama

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama offered his "deepest condolence" on Wednesday to families and friends of the 152 people killed in a plane crash near Islamabad, which included two Americans.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those touched by this horrible accident," Obama said in a statement. "The American people stand with the people of Pakistan in this moment of tragedy."

The passenger jet crashed earlier Wednesday into densely wooded hills outside Islamabad, killing everyone on board in the worst crash involving a Pakistani airliner in 18 years.

UN boss extends condolences over deadly air crash 

UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday sent his condolences to Pakistan's prime minister over the deadly crash of a Pakistani airliner with 152 people on board.    

"The Secretary General is deeply saddened by the tragic air crash today near Islamabad in which many people lost their lives," a UN statement said.    

It added that Ban wrote to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to express the sincere sympathy of the world body.        

A Pakistani airliner carrying 152 people crashed in a ball of flames earlier Wednesday into densely wooded hills outside Islamabad amid heavy rain and poor visibility, killing everyone on board.           

"Nobody survived," Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Geo TV.

Footballer Mesha Daud among plane crash dead

ISLAMABAD: Renowned national female footballer Mesha Daud was also among those 152 passengers aboard on Air blue’s plane, which met deadly crash in Islamabad on Wednesday morning, Geo News reported.

She was hailing from Karachi and was flying to Islamabad for participation in 6^th National Women Football Championship (NWFC) due to be held in Islamabad from today.

The sad demise of Mesha has left the participants deeply saddened.

19-year-old Mesha would play from Dia Club in Karachi. She could not accompany her teammates due to studies and was heading to join them but the tragic national disaster did the otherwise.

She was to play a match against Punjab team today but life did not permit her.

For her memorial, her teammates observed silence for a minute before commencement of match.

Her fellow footballers said they would remember Mesha all life long and also named their first match of the championship in her memory.

Black box not found: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira Wednesday denied earlier reports that the black box (Flight Data Recorder) of the crashed plane has been found, Geo News reported.

He also announced for compensation of Rs 0.5 million to the victims.

Earlier in the day, the federal cabinet announced a day of national mourning. He also informed the journalist about a relief camp established in Aab Para, which would start functioning from tomorrow.

The minister said they would have to use DNA tests to identify charred bodies plucked from the wreckage of the airliner.
DNA tests to identify crash victims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani health officials said Wednesday they would have to use DNA tests to identify charred bodies plucked from the wreckage of an airliner that crashed into hills outside Islamabad.

"Most of the dead bodies are in pieces, only body parts, some of them badly burnt... these can only be identified through DNA," Mahmood Jamal, chief of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) told reporters.

Officials said rescue workers had collected body parts and pieces of charred flesh into bags.

"Some 300 body bags, 40 blankets and 10 bundles of rope have been air dropped at the crash site," said the national disaster management authority.
Black box recovered from the area
ISLAMABAD: The black box of the ill-fated flight ED 202 has been recovered from the area, Geo News reported Wednesday.

An airliner carrying 152 people crashed in a ball of flames Wednesday into densely wooded hills outside Islamabad amid heavy rain and poor visibility, killing everyone on board.

Rescue officials said pieces of charred flesh and body parts were littered around the smouldering wreckage, partially buried on a remote hillside, in the deadliest crash involving a Pakistani passenger jet in 18 years.

Useful information regarding the incident was expected from the record. It is important to mention here that there was no facility in Pakistan to decode the information from the box.
Black box recovered

ISLAMABAD: The black box of the ill-fated flight ED 202 has been recovered from the area, Geo News reported Wednesday.
All 152 aboard die in Islamabad plane crash

ISLAMABAD: A passenger plane of a private airliner carrying 152 people crashed in a ball of flames Wednesday into densely wooded hills outside Islamabad amid heavy rain and poor visibility, killing everyone on board.

Rescue officials said pieces of charred flesh and body parts were littered around the smouldering wreckage, partially buried on a remote hillside, in the deadliest crash involving a Pakistani passenger jet in 18 years.

Private airline Airblue's flight ED 202 from Karachi was being diverted into land at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International airport when witnesses saw it flying at an unusually low altitude before a defeaning boom.

The plane disintegrated into a gorge between two hills, enveloped in cloud and some distance from the road, severely hampering rescue efforts and limiting visibility for helicopters hovering overhead.

"I saw a big ball of smoke and fire everywhere with big pieces of aircraft rolling down the hill," said police official Haji Taj Gul.

"The plane was flying very low. Then we heard a loud noise," said Wajih-ur Rehman, a resident of the exclusive E-7 neighbourhood in the Margalla foothills, home to Western expatriates and some of Pakistan's elite.

"Nobody survived," Interior Minister Rehman Malik said. Bodies were mostly mutilated and in pieces, and would require identification, he said.

The civil aviation authority and Airblue said there were 152, including six crew, on board the doomed plane.

Zeeshan Haider, a Civil Aviation Authority official said seven children, including two babies, were on the flight manifest.

Reports had said a handful of people survived the disaster, but asked whether all those on board died Malik replied: "Yes, all of them are dead".

"It's a big tragedy. It's really a big tragedy," the minister said.

The US embassy said two Americans were on the flight.

"I can confirm there were two American citizens on the plane and we are working with Pakistani authorities as we normally do in cases such as this," embassy spokesman Richard Snelsire told a foreign news agency.

Officials said air traffic control diverted the plane on its final approach, owing to rain and thick cloud -- outside the normal route for aircraft flying up from the southern port city of Karachi.

The civil aviation authority said all possible causes would be investigated, including terrorism and bad weather, although officials gave no indication that an attack might have been to blame.

"The investigation teams will probe every possible reason behind the crash ranging from the bad weather to terrorism," said Riaz-ul-Haq, the authority's deputy director.

Rescue official Arshad Javed told of horrifying scenes at the crash site after a routine commuter flight turned to carnage.

"All we could see were charred hands or feet. I collected two heads, two legs and two hands in a bag.

"We shouted if anyone was there alive, but heard no voice," he said.

"The wreckage of the plane is buried under the debris. First machines have to be deployed there to remove debris off the hill and then we can reach to pull out bodies or survivors -- if any."

Police said the wreckage was scattered in three directions.

"Bodies were found in pieces. We have found equipment which may be the blackbox. Now experts will examine it," said city police chief Bani Amin.

The government declared a day of national mourning and called off a cabinet meeting as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his grief over the "tragic incident" and offered prayers for the dead.

Anguished families were in tears after hearing of the disaster while waiting to meet their relatives at the Islamabad arrivals terminal.

"We cannot explain our agony, we don't know if he is alive," said Bilal Haider, who had come to collect his younger brother Abbas returning from a trip to Karachi for a job interview.

The Airbus 321 of Airpblue took off from Karachi before 8:00 am (0300 GMT).

The Airbus was a single-aisle plane was a relatively young 10 years old, and the European company offered its full assistance to Pakistani investigators.

Airblue has been operating only since 2004, using new Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft on domestic routes and international services to Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Manchester.

Pakistan enjoys a relatively good air safety record.

The most recent fatal commercial crash was a Pakistan International Airlines Fokker F27 that came down in July 2006, killing 45 people on takeoff from the central city of Multan, bound for Lahore.

The deadliest civilian plane crash involving a Pakistani jet was a PIA Airbus A300 that crashed into a cloud-covered hillside on its approach to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, killing 167 people in September 1992.
No report on anyone rescued alive: MalikISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik said all the passengers and plane crew on board the ill-fated plane of Airblue, died in the crash, Geo News reported Wednesday.

No one could escape the crash alive, he added saying the possibility of sabotage could not be ruled out in an accident of that magnitude.

Every aspect of the accident is being thoroughly investigated, he observed.

Malik said, ‘We are garnering the information regarding all the passengers of the plane. Rescue operation will soon be completed, which is already 98 percent through,’ adding the Rescue operation being carried out in sync among the GHQ, Air Defence and Pak Navy, is facing hardships, (as the path is quite inaccessible).

The investigations are on the go to ascertain the causes of the accident, he asserted saying the victims of the crash would be identified with DNA test. Many bodies found from the wreckage could not be identified, he said.

The Federal Minister said the crash site is a no-fly zone and after the crash, the wreckage fell into the gorge.

Youth Prime Minister and six members of the Cabinet were also among the dead, he added.

Major Pakistan air crashes

ISLAMABAD: A passenger jet crashed in densely wooded hills outside the capital Islamabad on Wednesday, killing up to 152 people on board.

Following is a chronology of major air crashes in Pakistan or involving Pakistani planes:

May 20, 1965: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 707 crashes on its inaugural flight while attempting to land at Cairo airport, killing 124 people.

August 6, 1970: A PIA Fokker F27 turboprop aircraft crashes while attempting to take off from Islamabad in a thunderstorm, killing all 30 people on board.

December 8, 1972: A PIA Fokker F27 crashes in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. All 26 people on board are killed.

November 26, 1979: A PIA Boeing 707 bringing home Pakistani Hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia crashes shortly after take-off from Jeddah airport, killing 156 people.

October 23, 1986: A PIA Fokker F27 crashes while coming in to land in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing 13 of the 54 people on board.

August 17, 1988: A US-made Hercules C-130 military aircraft crashes near Pakistan's eastern city of Bahawalpur, killing military ruler General Mohammad Zia ul Haq and 30 others including Pakistani generals and the US ambassador.

August 25, 1989: A PIA Fokker carrying 54 people disappears after leaving Gilgit in northern Pakistan. The wreckage is never found.

September 28, 1992: A PIA Airbus A300 crashes into a cloud-covered hillside on approach to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu after the plane descended too early, killing 167 people.

February 19, 2003: An air force Fokker F27 crashes in fog-shrouded mountains near the northwestern city of Kohat, killing air force chief Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali, his wife and 15 others.

February 24, 2003: A chartered Cessna 402-B carrying Afghan Mines and Industries Minister Juma Mohammad Mohammadi, four Afghan officials, a Chinese mining executive and two Pakistani crew crashes into the Arabian Sea near the southern city of Karachi.

July 10, 2006: A PIA Fokker F27 bound for Lahore crashes into a field and bursts into flames shortly after takeoff from the central city of Multan, killing 41 passengers and four crew.

July 28, 2010: An Airblue Airbus 321 flying from Karachi crashes into hills outside Islamabad while preparing to land, killing everyone on board. Civil aviation authorities say 152 people were on board while police put the number at 149.
French FM expresses grief over crash

PARIS: Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister on Wednesday expressed shock and grief over the crash of an aircraft on the Margalla hills.

In a statement issued by French Embassy in Pakistan, the French FM said he was moved by the news of the tragic plane crash that killed today numerous people near Islamabad and has plunged Pakistan into mourning.

"In those particularly tragic and painful circumstances, I want to express my solidarity to the Pakistani Authorities and to the Pakistani People. I also want to convey my condolences to the families of the victims and their loved ones so brutally plunged into mourning," Bernard Kouchner said.

US Ambassador expresses condolences over plane crash ISLAMABAD: U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson has expressed her sincere condolences on behalf of the United States to the people of Pakistan and to the families and friends of those who died in Wednesday’s plane crash.

In a statement issued here by the U.S. embassy, the ambassador shared her feelings of condolence with the members of the families who lost their relatives in this tragic incident.

Pilot fatigue may be reason behind crash: PALPA ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Air Lines Pilots Association (PALPA), Captain Sohail Baloch on Wednesday said Margalla Hills plane crash may be attributed to pilot’s fatigue.

“The pilot may be suffering from accumulated fatigue because they are not given adequate leaves,” he told a private news channel.

Captain Sohail Baloch said the route was not a no-fly zone, as speculated. The plane exceeded the safety distance due to bad weather.

He said this decision was, again, taken by the pilot who could not determine appropriate landing route and added the ISL system’s access ends a little before Islamabad and the pilot had to resort to visual queues for landing.

There could be other reasons to the crash, which will only be uncovered after completion of investigation, he added.

Airport sources said the Air Blue flight ED-202 took off at 7:50 am from Karachi to Islamabad and crashed at 9:50 a.m. It lost communication with the control tower due to bad weather.

Rescue operation is continuing, said Civil Development Authority (CDA) officials. The operation will take about three hours to complete.

Embassy of Turkey condoles plane crash ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Islamabad on Wednesday has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the plane crash in Islamabad and extended its condolences for the loss of lives, to Pakistan and its brotherly people.

The Embassy also announced that there is no scheduled flight of Air Blue from Turkey to Islamabad via Karachi.

An Air Blue flight from Manchester to Pakistan stops over in Turkey for only refueling. However, the Turkish Embassy does not have any information whether the flight in question is that one, said a press release issued here.

Malilk orders safe custody of plane crash victims belongings ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior, Senator A.Rehman Malik has directed Chief Commissioner, Islamabad to collect parts of the bodies and other valuables separately and keep them under safe custody so that the relatives of passengers could recognize them.

The Minister for Interior, Senator A.Rehman Malik who is personally supervising the operation is getting upto date information from the site time to time, said a press release issued here.

On the orders of Federal Minister for Interior, Senator A. Rehman Malik, Police, Rangers, and rescue teams have been reached on the spot. A helpline (051-9211223) has been established in National Crisis Management Cell, Ministry of Information for further information.

Gilani takes aerial view of crash site
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani along with Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhawa on Wednesday had an aerial view of the crash site of the Air Blue atop Margalla hills.

The private commercial airliner that could not land at the Islamabad airport due to bad weather crashed into an over 3000 feet high peak of the Margallas at around 10 in the morning, killing around 150 passengers and crew.

Gilani who earlier postponed the cabinet meeting and declared a day of national mourning over the tragic incident had a view of the inaccessible site and the Search And Rescue (SAR) measures, despite the inclement weather.

He directed clearing up some area for a helipad to assist in the SAR activities. He has already directed initiation of an inquiry to probe the crash.

Ministers for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira and Interior Rehman Malik accompanied the Prime Minister.

Gilani has also postponed his scheduled visit to the flood affected areas of Balochistan on Thursday.

Malik wants inquiry into route change
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik, grieved over the disastrous accident that killed several people this morning in Islamabad, said the inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the cause as to why the plane was on wrong route, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Speaking about the incident, he said the plane was signaled to land on the runway at a time when it was flying at a height of 2500 feet; however, the plane started to soar higher and reached 3,000 feet after the landing permission.

Malik said the search for the black box is on the go; so that, the actual course of the incident could be found out.

The interior minister stressed that investigations would be conducted to discover as to why plane flew on wrong path.

A special counter has been set up at the airport, so that the bereaved can garner information about the passengers of the plane.

12 passengers miss plane despite having ticketsRAWALPINDI: At least 12 commuters who despite having bought the tickets, could not go on board the ill-fated plane this morning, Geo News reported Wednesday.

These 12 passengers had reserved their seats to travel from Karachi to Islamabad; however, they could not make it to the plane on various counts; and thus, saved their lives, as all onboard died in the crash.

These people include Muhammed Abid, Rizwan, Asif, Imtiaz Ali Khuro, Akhtar, Pervaiz, Khizr, Mehreen Khan Bijarani, Shaheen, Salim Ahmed, Sapna Munawwar, Sayyed Shaheen Naqvi and Saeed Salahud Din.

NA Speaker, others grieve plane mishapISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza, Deputy Speaker Faisal Kareem Kundi, Senate Chairman Farooq H. Naek, Deputy Chairman Senate Jan Muhammed Jamali and various federal ministers, state ministers and other political personalities voiced deep regret and sorrow over the accident of plane crash that killed several people today, Geo News reported Wednesday.

In their separate condolence messages, they have expressed grief and mourning over the sad incident.

Those who were grieved over the incident include Leader of the House in Senate Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Opposition Leader Wasim Sajjad, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Farooq Sattar , the MQM’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the NA Hyder Abbas Rizvi, Minister for Sates and Frontier Regions (Safron) Najmuddin Khan, Federal Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Abdul Razzaq Thahim, Federal Minister for Housing and Constructions Rehmatullah Kakar and State Minister for communication Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Warriach.

The leaders prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased and peace of heart for the bereaved.

25 bodies shifted to PIMS

ISLAMABAD: Twenty-five bodies of plane crash have been shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Crewmembers among 152 killed in crash: Malik
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said all 152 persons including crewmembers onboard have been killed in the crash. Earlier, there were reports of survival of five people.

Captain of crash plane retired from PIA

RAWALPINDI: The pilot of crashed private airliner Pervaiz Iqbal Chaudhry being retired from national airline sometimes ago.


Awan takes aerial view of crash site
ISLAMABAD: Federal Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Baber Awan took the aerial view of the crash site and reviewed rescue operations.

Talking to media at this occasion, Awan expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives and directed the high officials of district administration to submit initial report about the incident.

President, PM sad over plane crash
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed deep sorrow over plane crash in Islamabad and ordered immediate relief for the victims. Both the leaders directed the concerned authorities to provide full medical facilities to injured and urged coordinated rescue activities.


Cabinet meeting postponed; one day national mourning 
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday expressed shock and deep sorrow over the tragic air crash on Margalla hills and announced a day of national mourning. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, at its regular weekly meeting expressed shock over the crash and offered fateha for the passengers killed in the incident.


More than 100 bodies recovered from plane crash 

ISLAMABAD: Rescue workers have recovered the bodies of more than 100 people after a Pakistani jet crashed in Islamabad on Wednesday and there are still no signs of survivors, the city's police chief said.


Passengers list of crashed flight

ISLAMABAD: Private airline ‘Air Blue’ issued the list of names of passengers onboard the plane crashed in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The names of passengers are Pyar Ali, Syeed Shaan-E-Hussain Naqvi, Prem Chand, Hassan Javed Khan, Syed Arsalan Ahmed, Mohd. Tufail, Abdul Rehman, Mohd. Faisal Rasheed, Mohd. Ovais, Hussain Alam, Ghulam Abbas, Naveed Ilyas, Mohd. Ali Mughal, Mohd Aftab, Shireen Lodhi, Mohd. Nawab Hassan, Asim Arain, Ali Sherazi, Mohd. Bashir, Zahid Habibi, Dr. Mirko Cvjfticanin, Asia Begum, Mohd. Umair Khan, Haji Rehmat Gul, Mohd. Saqib Rafiq Shaikh, Misha Dawood, Ali Asghar Rajab Ali, Rashida Tyeb Khan, Murtaza Tyed Khan, Malik Mohd. Yousuf, Nabeel Lutfi, Manzoor Nasir, Saleem Ahmed, Rosie Ahmed, Salauddin Syed, Hamid Javed, Mohd. Yousuf, Ata Raja, Anwar Bibi, Gulzar Bibi, Tariq Subhan, Abdul Ghaffar, Irfan Irfan, Mohd. Sultan, Mohd. Yaseen, Gayaba Khan, Manzoor Ahmed, Masood Salam, Syed Azam, Ojam Khan, Jannat Gul, Zaintun Bibi, Waheed Ur Rehman, Mohd. Feroze, Dr. Suresh, Mohd. Asad, Amir Siddiqui, Mona Dhonki, Mehlee Dhonki, Amir Dhonki, Afshan Dhonki, Masood Kayani, Zafar Saleem, Abdul Ghani, Adnan Qayoom, Abbas Haider, Osama Ghafoor, Mohd. Zameen, Andaleeb Junaid, Abdul Raheem, Mohd. Zaid Rauf, Anwar Begum , Nusrat Begum, Ali Shah, Kamran Shah, Abdul Qayum , Maqsood Ahmed, Abdul Ghaffar, Mohd. Iqbal, Khan Zaman , A M Nasir , Syeda Rabab Zehra Naqvi, Ovais Bin Laiq, Bilal Jamaee , Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah, Samatar Bashir, Amer Khattaq , Hassan Naseem, Atif Rasheed, Kaneze Akhthar, Shamsul Haq, Khadim Hussain Rehmat Khan, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohd Irfan, Malik Ghulam Hussain, Javeria Faraz, Mohd Ajmal Khan , Sikander Hayat Awan, Mubashir Shahid, Tariq Shahid, Mr. Kamran, Mr. Saleem , Javaid Iqbal, Pervez Akhthar, Raheem Khan Rajput, Ikhlaas Khan, Aswah Gul, Ansar Abbas, Athar Iftikhar, Haji Gul Mehboob, Farooq Khan, Syed Jawad Ali, Ayesha Amir, Aliza Amir, Abu Baqr Izhar, Sapna Munawar, Farooq Nadeem, Mohd. Asif, Hassan Adeel, Malik Muhammad Ajmal, Owais Khan, Romaisa Khan, Muhammad Saleem, Mujahid Rehman, Aesar Ali, Tasleem Kausar, Muhammad Ibrahim , Ghulam Rasool, Mrs Sabira, Mrs Gulshad, Mr Rawaha, Ali Akber, Muhammad Rafique, Syed Haider Zulfiqar Shah, Muhammad Saleem Akhtar, Rizwan Ghani Khan, Amber Rizwan, Muhammad Zawar Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Muskan Rizwan, Farid Ahmed Alvi, Kiran Alvi, Muhammad Khalid, Asif Shehzad, Ayesha Asif, Syed Ainullah Agha, Afazal Masood, Syed Attaullah Hashmi, Waheed Shaikh, Navaid Chaudhry.

CAA constitutes committee to probe crash

KARACHI: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) constituted a five-member committee to investigate the plane crash in Islamabad.

According to CAA sources, Air Commodore Khawaja Abdul Majeed, Chairman Safety Investigation will head the committee.

5 rescued as passenger plane crashes in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Five people have been rescued from the wreckage of a private airliner crashed at Margalla Hills early on Wednesday.
One hundred and forty-six people including 139 adults, five kids and five crewmembers were onboard whereas 12 are those lucky people who missed the flight.

According to sources, an airbus 320 bound for Islamabad departed from Karachi at 7:50 am. The local residents said plane made low flight before the crash.

Rescue operation is underway despite difficulties because of hilly location of the incident site.

Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said five wounded being shifted to hospital whereas rescue operation and search for black box is underway. The airport control tower had signaled landing approach to the plane when it was just eight kilometers away from the airport, reports said.

Five injured rescued from wreckage: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik has said quoting sources of Civil Aviation rescue officials that as many as five injured persons have been rescued from the wreckage of plane crash site.

Wounded persons are critical in condition who have been rushed to hospital for medical assistance, he said.

Minister said the crash site is thickly covered with trees located at uneven hills and there is no room for transportation to arrive at the crash site therefore rescue helicopters were the only mean left available for rescue services.

“Army helicopters are suspending on air to recover the bodies and rescue the injured ones as there is no room for vehicles to get to crash site”, he said.

“I have also ordered rescue officials to recover Black Box soon to determine cause of plane crash”, he said.

Private airliner crashes in Islamabad, 159 onboard
ISLAMABAD: Ten bodies have been recovered from Margalla where a private airliner was crashed early on Wednesday.

Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) told Geo News that rescue workers facing problems due to difficult hilly location, however, Front Guards reached at the site of incident and so far 10 bodies have been recovered. Keeping in view the nature of the incident, there are thin chances of survivor, he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ordered inquiry report from defence ministry. At least 159 people including crewmember were onboard.

4 bodies recovered from Islamabad crash site
ISLAMABAD: Four dead bodies have been recovered from the site where a private airliner was crashed early on Wednesday, Geo News quoted chairman Capital Development Authority(CDA) as saying.


Commercial plane crashes near Islamabad; deaths feared
ISLAMABAD: A commercial airbus of a private airline has crashed into Margalla Hills, a mountainous range behind Shah Faisal Mosque, apparently due to rough weather, Geo news reported.

According to preliminary reports, as many as 150 passengers including crewmembers were on board plane while the smoke is seen rising through heavy clouds from the crash site, police and rescue service officials said.

Eyewitnesses said people noticed airbus flying at very low altitude near Daman-e-Koh this morning and it might have crashed due to rough weather.

The wreckage can be seen in video footages with fierce fire raging and smoke emitting from there despite heavy rains in Islamabad.

Airport sources said the flight took off at 7:50am from Karachi to Islamabad but crashed due to uneven weather a few minutes before landing after loosing connection with control tower.

Islamabad is witnessing heavy showers and thick fog at the moment. Meanwhile rescue teams have been dispatched to area.