President Alvi grieved over loss of life in PIA plane crash
Last updated on: 22 May,2020 05:34 pm
He prayed for peace of the departed souls and early recovery of those injured.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – President Dr Arif Alvi Friday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a tragic crash of Pakistan International Airline’s plane in Karachi.
The president sympathized with the families who had lost their dear ones in the tragic incident, a President House press release said.
He prayed for peace of the departed souls and early recovery of those injured.
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) May 22, 2020
Earlier today, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane with more than 100 people believed to be on board crashed in the southern city of Karachi.
Images aired on Dunya News showed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight had smashed into a residential area, with clouds of thick black smoke billowing from the site.
"The plane crashed in Karachi. We are trying to confirm the number of passengers but initially it is 99 passengers and eight crew members," said Abdul Sattar Khokhar, the spokesman for the country s aviation authority, adding that the flight was coming from Lahore.
Khokhar added that the aircraft was an Airbus A320 and was en route to Karachi.
The Pakistan military later tweeted that security forces had been deployed to the area and helicopters were being used to survey the damage and help ongoing rescue operations.
It comes just days after the country began allowing commercial flights to resume after planes were grounded during a lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.
Pakistan has a chequered military and civilian aviation safety record, with frequent plane and helicopter crashes over the years.
In 2016, a Pakistan International Airlines plane burst into flames after one of its two turboprop engines failed while flying from the remote northern to Islamabad, killing more than 40 people.
PIA, one of the world s leading airlines until the 1970s, now suffers from a sinking reputation due to frequent cancellations, delays and financial troubles. It has been involved in numerous controversies over the years, including the jailing of a drunk pilot in Britain in 2013.
The crash comes as Pakistanis across the country are preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eidul Fitr, with many travelling back to their homes in cities and villages.