KARACHI, Pakistan - Many casualties are feared after a plane carrying more than 100 passengers and crew crashed into houses after the captain reportedly notified air traffic control of a technical fault.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) jet was on its final approach to Karachi's main airport when it went down in a residential area near Model Colony about a minute before it was due to land.
A number of houses were damaged or destroyed, there were fires in a street where debris from the plane, buildings and parked cars were scattered.
A major rescue operation was underway to save any survivors amid a huge fire that filled the area with choking black smoke.
State-run PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said 99 passengers and eight crew members were on board the Airbus A320. There was no word on the fate of those on board or whether anyone on the ground was injured or killed.
Pictures and video show a huge cloud of black smoke billowing into the air following the crash, which happened at about 2.45pm local time on Friday.
Flight PK8303 was on a domestic journey from the eastern city of Lahore to the southern city of Karachi.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources said the captain reported a technical fault and the plane disappeared from radar shortly before it was due to land at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, 24 News reported.
CAA sources told News One that communication with the plane was cut off one minute before it was scheduled to touch down.
A spokesman for Pakistan's national airline said: "The plane PK8303 with 99 passengers and eight crew members has crashed."
The Pakistani army said its quick reaction force and paramilitary troops have reached the site for relief and rescue efforts alongside civil administration.(FA)
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) jet was on its final approach to Karachi's main airport when it went down in a residential area near Model Colony about a minute before it was due to land.
A number of houses were damaged or destroyed, there were fires in a street where debris from the plane, buildings and parked cars were scattered.
A major rescue operation was underway to save any survivors amid a huge fire that filled the area with choking black smoke.
State-run PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said 99 passengers and eight crew members were on board the Airbus A320. There was no word on the fate of those on board or whether anyone on the ground was injured or killed.
Pictures and video show a huge cloud of black smoke billowing into the air following the crash, which happened at about 2.45pm local time on Friday.
Flight PK8303 was on a domestic journey from the eastern city of Lahore to the southern city of Karachi.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources said the captain reported a technical fault and the plane disappeared from radar shortly before it was due to land at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, 24 News reported.
CAA sources told News One that communication with the plane was cut off one minute before it was scheduled to touch down.
A spokesman for Pakistan's national airline said: "The plane PK8303 with 99 passengers and eight crew members has crashed."
The Pakistani army said its quick reaction force and paramilitary troops have reached the site for relief and rescue efforts alongside civil administration.(FA)
