Pakistan passenger plane ‘on fire’ before crashing with 47 onboard

A plane was burning in the air before it plummeted into the ground after take-off in Pakistan, according to witnesses. The plane went missing after take-off in the country’s north with around 47 people on board. Pakistani TV channels reported the plane took off from the city of Chitral but lost contact with ground control shortly afterwards. The aircraft, operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) then crashed in the northwest. It was flying to the country’s capital, Islamabad.

The aircraft has crashed in a mountainous area, and before it hit the ground it was on fire.

Taj Muhammad Khan, a government official based in the Havelian region

Witnesses have described seeing burning bodies as authorities reveal they do not expect to find survivors from flight PK-661. It is believed Pakistani popstar Junaid Jamshed may be among the dead. The singer turned Evangelical cleric is rumoured to have been on the flight. Forty of those on board were passengers and seven believed to be crew.

Asia-Pacific