NP Rank:
The worst air crash in Pakistan’s aviation history at Islamabad
“A private airliner flight from Turkey via Karachi to Islamabad carrying 159 passengers including the crew crashed on the Margalla hills near Islamabad around 9.30 this morning,” reports Dawn News from Islamabad. This is believed to be the worst air crash in Paksitan’s aviation history.
According to an NDTV report Islamabad, when the Airline Airblue flight arrived for landing at 9.30 the civil aviation authorities at the Islambad airport informed the pilot that the airport was engaged and that he should return later. Also, fog and heavy rains have the visibility at the airport. The plane crashed at the Margalla More on the Margalla Hill.
At the time when the first reports came in, the crash was believed to be result of bad weather conditions but unconfirmed sources subsequently claimed that this accident happened due to a fuel tank explosion. It is not clear whether the explosion took place in mid air or whether it happened during the crash.
An eye witness “Anjum Rehman” says she saw the plane fly overhead from the balcony of her home in F6 Sector which is just a six minutes drive from the Margalla hill. She says she saw an airplane flying at dangerously low altitude headed for the Margalla hill which was shrouded in thick fog. The plane disappeared into thick fog and within seconds she heard a loud explosion.
Initially, it was believed that all 159 passengers had perished. Special Helicopters have been pressed into service for rescue operations. The NDTV reporter who accompanied the first rescue team has arrived and reports that 15 dead bodies have been recovered so far but most of them are charred beyond recognition. About 40 injured passengers are being airlifted to city hospital. All city hospitals have been asked to stand by for this emergency.
Islamabad and Karachi airports are witnessing heart-rending scenes as the near and dear ones of the passengers are trying to find out the fate of their relatives and friends who have been victims of this mishap. The airlines is yet to announce any compensation for the victims.


Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 03:26 on July 28th, 2010
“now we are pretty sure that there is not a single survivor,” says the director general of Pakistan’s civil defense, near the crash site. until today, this airline has not suffered any fatal crashes.
at 08:47 on July 29th, 2010
Hi Rumana,
I was away on an assignment. Thanks for the update.
Regards and best wishes,
Vincent
- Sign In or Join to post comments
Azmat H Khan (not verified)at 03:22 on July 29th, 2010
It is really a great shock to note the loses of 152 lives in the air-crash and loss of nation. May Allahtala place the souls of victims in the best of heaven and give patience and courage to their nexts to combat the pain of losing their love ones in the sad happening.
at 08:49 on July 29th, 2010
Hi Azmat,
I share your sentiments and join you in your prayers for the souls of the victims of this unfortunate incident.
Vincent
- Sign In or Join to post comments
mahreen (not verified)at 09:20 on July 30th, 2010
It is very sad to know abut the crash, may Allah rest their souls in heavens. I believe tht ppl in pakistan are facing more truma in form of flood, I wish and pray tht ppl and orgs shuld get together to help this poor country to come out of these crisis. We shuld pray tht a country like pakistan which is the biggest blessing of Allah shuld get the right leaders who can give and take care of this deserving public. (amin)
- Sign In or Join to post comments
Kaiser Hameed Khan (not verified)at 00:55 on July 31st, 2010
This is the biggest and worst Air Crash in Pakistan. What is more worrying that it occured in the Federal Capital Territory where systems are slightly better than the rest of the Nation.Whatever the cause, the RADAR cannot be let off scot free because the Aircraft was allowed to wander into a "No Fly Zone" what if there had been a third person in the cockpit who could have comandeered the aircraft onto the Presidency or the Prime Minister? or the Airheadquarters /Naval Headquarters? The DG Civil Aviation seems to overlook such a possibility and may even venture to brush off this as mere nonsence( just to save his own skin) Whereas this was a real possibilty and if not checked may lead to another catastrophy. Looking at the incident with a critical eye, the RADAR which operates under the Civil Aviation, must be held responsible. If the Black Box and the Cockpit voice recorder have not been tampered with,they will certainly reveal why such a sophisticated aircraft with a pilot with more than 30,000 hours of experience ignored the Purported warnings of the RADAR and the ground control. I Appeal to all the journalists, the world over , to find and reveal the truth and if the RADAR is found to be lying, both the RADAR and the Chairman Civil Aviation who stressed during a press conference that the RADAR was not at fault, must be brought to justice for publically misleading the world and levying Blame on a Dead man.Any way if the world fails to do justice, divine justice shall certainly follow its course, for it does not know any DG , Politician or a Person in High Office or Authority.The souls of 152 innocent persons shall haunt the conscience of the liers for the rest of their lives, therefore : Let us wait and see whether the people in high offices have moral courage which is inculcated in them during their training OR they fall prey to Divine Justice. ONLY TIME WILL TELL
- Sign In or Join to post comments
muhammad imran (not verified)at 07:51 on August 2nd, 2010
ye pakistan ki histroy ka sb sy bra hadsa hy .hamri dua hy ki allha un sb ko jannt m jga aata frmaay(aameen) imransanwal15@yahoo.com