KARACHI: A Russian-made cargo airplane crashed into a residential area near Dalmia area of the Gulistan-e-Johar soon after takeoff from the Jinnah International Airport on early Sunday, setting off a huge blaze, senior government and rescue officials said.
Talking to the Pakistan Today, Pakistan International Airlines chief spokesperson Sultan Hassan confirmed that the IL-76 aircraft of a private company had eight crew members on board, while rescue and medical officials confirmed death of all the crew.
The aviation officials said that crew of Russian nationals includes pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers, two technicians and one each navigator and load master. Eyewitnesses at the scene told the Pakistan Today that under construction buildings were on fire soon after the plane crash and loud explosions could also be heard.
An official said that the multipurpose cargo aircraft came down in an under-construction housing complex of the Pakistan Navy. The airplane was heading to Khartoum, capital of Sudan, when it came down two minutes after take off at 1:45am (2045 GMT), Sultan Hassan said. An eyewitness said that the airplane crashed into a thickly populated area soon after its right engine caught fire first.
“The pieces of bodies of five people have been recovered from the spot and the rescue workers are still busy in searching more from damaged buildings,” said Shad Masih, a local police official. “The bodies are completely defaced so we cannot say whether they were crewmembers or labours working on the ground,” he said.
Executive District Officer (Works and Services) Masood Alam said that the fire brigade workers controlled on the huge flames after three-hour continuous efforts. The fire brigade staff had to face difficulties as about 300 ambulances gathered there and people in large number were also visiting the sight, he said.
Talking to reporters, Naval Commodore Khalid Malik said that there were eight to 10 labourers inside the under-construction building and they were still missing. To a question, he said that the labourers were working under the command of a private contractor and they did not report their contract yet.
The Naval commodore said that the fire was completely under control and now cooling process was being completed. The rescue workers said that two bodies were shifted to the Jinnah Hospital while four bodies were brought to the Civil Hospital. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.
Earlier this month, at least 21 people were killed when a small passenger plane crashed soon after take off in Karachi. In July, a passenger jet operated by a private Airblue company crashed into hills overlooking the federal capital Islamabad, during stormy weather, killing all 152 onboard.
