Investigation launched after passenger jet crash in Pakistan

By Nathan Morley

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passenger flight from Lahore was coming in to land when it seemed to experience technical problems.

The plane, carrying 91 passengers and eight crew members, circled the city before trying to land again at Karachi Airport.

Before touchdown the pilot appeared to loose power in both engines and the plane fell from the sky onto a residential area near the airport.

TV images showed the Airbus jetliner had smashed into buildings before bursting into flames; sending a black cloud across the city.

Some survivors

Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar initially said there were no survivors. But apparently at least three passengers got away with their lives.

Arshad Mahmood Malik, the PIA chief executive, said the Airbus A320 was one of the safest planes in the skies.

In a tweet, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was “shocked and saddened” by the crash and announced an investigation had been launched.