Pakistan International Airlines PK8303 Crashes In Karachi

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Airbus A320 on flight PK8303 has crashed into a residential area shortly before landing in Karachi.

The flight was operating from Lahore (IATA: LHE) to Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport (IATA: KHI).

PIA has confirmed that there were 99 people on board, consisting of 91 passengers, two pilots, and six cabin crew members. Pakistani officials reported on May 23 that 97 people, including all crew members, have died in the accident and two passengers survived the crash who have been transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Multiple residents of the buildings which the aircraft crashed into were also transported to hospitals, a total of eight people were injured on the ground, three of the seriously.

The 15 year-old aircraft was registered in Pakistan as AP-BLD. It had been stored for the past two months and only started flying again three days ago after Pakistan lifted its temporary commercial flights ban to contain the spread of covid-19.

Quickly reacting to the accident, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) stated it is “saddened by the tragic loss of life“. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan commented on Twitter that he is in touch with the CEO of Pakistan International Airlines who is on his way to the crash site. Meanwhile, the airline changed its website into black and white colors.

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus said it will be fully cooperating with French and Pakistani officials in the investigation into the crash.