A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-42-500, registration AP-BHO performing flight PK-661 from Chitral to Islamabad (Pakistan) with 42 passengers and 6 crew, declared emergency reporting the failure of the left hand engine (PW121A), shortly afterwards radio and radar contact was lost with the aircraft at about 16:30L (11:30Z). Residents in Havelian near Abbottabad (Pakistan) heard sounds consistent with an impact. The crash site was located at that position about 25nm north of Islamabad, the wreckage is ablaze with a plume of smoke over the crash site. Emergency services are on their way to the crash site.
Local government sources report, 23 bodies have so far been recovered, chances to find survivors are “bleak”.
The airline reported contact with flight PK-661 has been lost, all resources have been mobilized to locate the aircraft. The airline reported there were 42 passengers (including 2 infants, 2 Austrian and 1 Chinese Citizen), 3 flight crew, 2 cabin crew and a mechanics on board of the aircraft.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the aircraft declared emergency shortly before it disappeared from radar screens. A search for the missing aircraft is underway.
The Aviation Herald
