Off the wire
• Bishkek among top 10 most popular travel destinations for Russians  • Slovakia, Czech Republic to cooperate in airspace protection  • Spotlight: Political uncertainty, loaded gov't promises add to anti-U.S. sentiment in "occupied" Okinawa  • Iran moves to change national currency unit to "toman"  • Saudi says future growth depends on economic diversity  • Nigeria to leverage on organic agriculture to boost food production: minister  • Chinese firm plans to help Cambodia develop e-government, e-commerce  • Abbas welcomes French endeavor to save stalled peace process  • Expectations for Chinese economy improve: German institute  • Feature: Ancelotti's golden way for Bayern Munich  
You are here: 　 Home

2nd LD Writethru: Rescue work underway after passenger plane crashes in Pakistan

Xinhua, December 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Rescue work is underway after a passenger plane of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with 47 people on board crashed in the country's northern Havelian area on Wednesday, officials said.

An official in charge of the rescue said that five ambulances carrying rescue and medical teams have been dispatched to the crash site.

The official said the domestic plane, which was on its way to the country's capital Islamabad from north Chitral district, crashed on hills.

Ambulances are having difficulty reaching the hilly area, and rescue personnels have to walk to the crash site to recover the bodies.

He said the mountainous terrain and darkness is making the rescue work more difficult.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan army's media wing, said that two helicopters carrying rescue teams have been dispatched to Havelian, a town located in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the tragic accident and directed National Disaster Management Authority to mobilize its resources and take part in the rescue operation with the provincial government.

The Civil Aviation Authority has formed an emergency desk at Islamabad airport to provide assistance to the relatives of the passengers of the ill-fated plane.

A state of emergency has been imposed in all the hospitals near the crash site.

Danial Gilani, spokesperson of PIA tweeted that "we regret to inform that PIA's ATR-42 aircraft operating as PK-661, carrying around 40 persons lost its contact with the control tower on its way from Chitral to Islamabad a short while ago."

Later local media reported that the plane was carrying 47 people, including 31 men, nine women and two kids, and five crewmembers.

The PIA spokesperson said the plane took off at 3:38 p.m. local time (1038 GMT) and lost contact with control tower at 4:20 p.m. (1120 GMT).

Khursheed Tanoli, deputy superintendent police Havelian said the plane crashed in remote hilly area, miles away from the residential areas, and caught fire following the accident. Endit