Aircraft crashes near Karachi airport with 98 on board

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Airbus A320 aircraft crashed in Model Colony near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on Friday.

PIA spokesperson Abdul Sattar confirmed the crash and added that flight 8303 was carrying 90 passengers and 8 crew members from Lahore to Karachi, reports the Dawn.

Footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the site of the crash. Ambulances and rescue officials arrived at the scene to help residents.

A statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Army Quick Reaction Force and Sindh Pakistan Rangers reached the site for relief and rescue efforts alongside civil administration.

Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters flown for damage assessment and rescue efforts. Urban Search & Rescue Teams are being sent on site for rescue efforts. naveed sent this as well

Minister of Health & Population Welfare has declared emergency in all major hospitals of Karachi due to the plane crash, according to Meeran Yousuf, the media coordinator to the Sindh health minister.

Last year, a PIA aircraft escaped accident after it skidded off the runway while landing at Gilgit airport.

Passengers had remained safe in the accident, but the plane suffered considerable damage.

In 2016, PIA flight PK-661 carrying 48 passengers and crew had crashed on the way to Islamabad from Chitral on December 7. There were no survivors from the ill-fated flight.