Mayor Wasim Akhtar said everyone on board had died, however, two civil aviation officials later told The Associated Press that at least two other people survived the accident.
Local television stations reported that 3 other people sitting in the front row of the plane survived and transmitted photographs of a guy on a stretcher known as Zafar Masood, the director of the Punjab Bank.
Lahore Airport, in the northeast of the city, where the flight originated, had first declared that there were 107 other people on board, but that number was later revised to 91 passengers and seven team members. Spokesman Abdul Sattar Kokhar said the discrepancy was due to confusion in the chaotic aftermath of the accident.
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The Civil Aviation Authority said the pilot had called a mayday saying he had lost an engine. I was making an attempt to land when the plane crashed.
Witnesses said the Airbus A320 was under the impression that it had tried to land two or three times before crashing into a residential domain near Jinnah International Airport. A local resident, Abdul Rahman, told The Associated Press that he saw the aircraft spinning at least 3 times, and it appeared he was trying to land before crashing into several houses.
Photos and videos on social networks leaving the crash site.
The army temporarily sent to the scene, according to a series of tweets from a spokesman for the Pakistani armed forces.
“Army Rapid Reaction Force troops and Pakistani Sindh Rangers have arrived at the scene of the incident to conduct rescue and rescue efforts throughout the civilian administration. Details to follow,” reads in the first tweet.
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One moment he said: “Update #PIA Incident: Pak Army Aviation helicopters flew to assess the wounded and make rescue efforts. Urban search and rescue are being sent to the scene for rescue efforts.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted: “Shocked and saddened by the PIA accident. ArrayArray An immediate investigation will be initiated. Prayers and condolences to the families of the deceased.”
PIA blocked flights in March due to coronavirus, but resumed on a limited basis on May 16.
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Documents show that the aircraft was last controlled by the aircraft on November 1, 2019. The lead ENGINEER of PIA signed a separate certificate on April 28 stating that all maintenance had been performed on the aircraft and that “the aircraft is in the best airworthiness and meets all protection standards”.
Airbus A320 property records on the crash screen that China Eastern Airlines flew the aircraft from 2004 to 2014. The aircraft then entered the LA PIA fleet, leased to GE Capital Aviation Services.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.