SMG used to target PIA plane, group behind attack identified: report
The assault was the second militant strike on a Pakistan airport in recent weeks.
PESHAWAR (Web Desk) – According to initial invesitgation report, a submachine gun was used in attack on Pakistan International Airline (PIA) plane near the Peshawar airport, Dunya News reported on Wednesday.
The shooting took place at 11:00pm on Tuesday night when the passenger plane was 350 metre away from the runway of Bacha Khan International Airport.
The report revealed that a flare gun was used first to determine plane’s exact position.
The PIA flight PK756, carrying 178 passengers from Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh to Peshawar, was fired upon for two minutes before landing at the Bacha Khan International airport late yesterday night. Officials said the PIA flight was hit by at least 12 bullets.
A woman passenger was killed and two flight stewards identified as Wajid and Ijaz were injured.
Wajid, who sustained bullet injuries in his leg, said the plane was at an altitude of 250 to 300 feet height when gunshot hit the plane at the back side. Luckily Captain Tariq Chaudhry safely landed the plane at the airport and averted a catastrophe.
Security forces immediately launched search operations in the suspected areas and arrested more than 250 suspects.
During investigation, It was revealed that banned Tehreek-e-Taliban’s Darra Adam Khel group was involved in the attack.
Flight operations at Peshawar airport resumed after being temporarily suspended following last night s terrorist attack on the plane, the Civil Aviation Authority said.
The assault was the second militant strike on a Pakistan airport in recent weeks. On July 8, around 10 terrorists stormed the old Karachi airport terminal building in which 29 people were killed and security forces also gunned down all the terrorists.
There has been a high security alert at all airports around the country since the military started an offensive against foreign and local terrorists in North Waziristan.
