At least 97 people died in the Friday May 22 crash of an Airbus A320 over a residential area in Karachi, the big city in southern Pakistan, according to a new report released on Saturday by local authorities, which also reported two survivors.
The plane crashed in a residential area. RIZWAN TABASSUM / AFP
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crashed into a group of houses as it approached Karachi airport. The latest death toll from 97 dead and two survivors said health services in Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital. It is ultimately unclear whether the disaster also claimed lives on the ground. Friday seemed to be in question.
The sources reported at least two survivors. We do not finally know if victims have been claimed on the ground. AKHTAR SOOMRO / REUTERS
The aircraft from Lahore was carrying 99 people (91 passengers and 8 crew members) said a PIA spokesman on Saturday, correcting a first count which reported 98 occupants. Among the two miracles of the crash was Zafar Masud, president of the Bank of Punjab, one of Pakistan's largest banks, said PIA president Arshad Malik.
The last major air accident in the country dates back to December 2016. A PIA domestic plane crashed in the mountainous north of the country, killing 47 people. RIZWAN TABASSUM / AFP
Rescue operations ended at dawn on Saturday, authorities said. During the whole day of Friday, rescuers and residents had searched the rubble for bodies. An AFP journalist had seen several charred bodies loaded on board an ambulance.
Frequent civil and military aircraft and helicopter crashes have occurred in Pakistan over the years. ASIF HASSAN / AFP
Arshad Malik, CEO of the company, said the aircraft, an Airbus A320, was " on final approach " to Karachi airport when an incident occurred. " The last time we heard from the pilot, he indicated that he had a technical problem ," said Malik in a video posted on Twitter. " He was told (...) that two runways were ready for the landing, but he decided to go around. According to Interior Minister Ijaz Ahmad Shah, the pilot said he had " lost an engine " and then made " a distress call ".
“I saw a passenger off the plane. (...) He was alive. He talked. He asked me to save him, but his legs were stuck in the emergency exit, ”said Raja Amjad, a witness. RIZWAN TABASSUM / AFP
The aircraft, put into service in 2004, was under the colors of PIA only since 2014, according to an Airbus press release.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was " shocked and saddened " by the disaster, addressing his " prayers and condolences to the families and missing persons " on Twitter . According to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the plane had on board " many people returning home for Eid " el-Fitr, the celebration of the end of Ramadan, the most important holiday for Muslims.
The accident comes just days after the country authorized the resumption of domestic commercial flights, suspended for more than a month to combat the spread of the new coronavirus. Very few international flights had been maintained.