PAKISTAN: Family members of airliner crash victims bring remains of their loved ones to Karachi for last rites

Record ID: 382877

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Family members of airliner crash victims bring remains of their loved ones to Karachi for last rites
  • Date: 22nd April 2012
  • Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (APRIL 21, 2012) (REUTERS) CARGO AREA OF AIRPORT RELATIVES OF CRASH VICTIMS EMBRACING AND COMFORTING EACH OTHER YOUNG MAN WHOSE FATHER DIED IN CRASH TALKING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RELATIVES AND RSCUE OFFICIALS WAITING FOR BODIES TO ARRIVE (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MOHAMMAD ZOHAIB, WHOSE UNCLE DIED IN PLANE CRASH, SAYING: "I have come here to receive the body of my uncle who had been more than a father to me. The way he supported us, no one can fill this void." RELATIVES WALKING TO RECEIVE THE BODIES VARIOUS OF RELATIVES GATHERING AS VEHICLE CARRYING CASKET ARRIVES CASKETS VARIOUS OF RELATIVES AND OTHER PEOPLE CARRYING CASKETS RESCUE PERSONNEL LOADING CASKET ONTO AMBULANCE RELATIVES SITTING AROUND CASKET INSIDE AMBULANCE AMBULANCE DRIVING OFF VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CARRYING COFFIN FOR FUNERAL VARIOUS OF FUNERAL PRAYER BEING OFFERED CASKET PLACED ON GROUND VARIOUS OF RELATIVES, FRIENDS AND OTHERS CARRYING COFFIN TO CEMETERY
  • Embargoed: 7th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan, Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVAB8U3BV1B7SW95J2BC7XXM8T85
  • Story Text: A Pakistani plane on Saturday (April 21) transported to Karachi at least six bodies of the victims who had perished in a plane crash near the capital city of Islamabad a day earlier.
    The Boeing 737, operated by local airline Bhoja Air, was flying to the capital from Pakistan's biggest city Karachi when it crashed in bad weather into wheat fields around 5 miles (about 9 km) from the airport on Friday (April 20).
    Disaster management authorities said there were no survivors among the 127 people on board the ill-fated flight.
    Distraught relatives, who flew to Islamabad from Karachi to claim the remains of their loved ones, airlifted the caskets home. More bodies will be arriving later in the day.
    The bodies were handed over to relatives for last rites.
    Officials in Islamabad said 115 bodies had been identified and over 100 bodies were handed over to their kin.
    "I have come here to receive the body of my uncle who had been more than a father to me. The way he supported us, no one can fill this void," said Mohammad Zohaib, whose uncle died in crash.
    A funeral was held for at least one victim immediately after the body had arrived.
    The remaining funerals will be held later at different locations in the city whereas a few bodies will be sent to their native towns in Sindh province, of which Karachi is capital.
    The Boeing 737-200 that crashed was more than 27 years old, according to AviationSafety.net.
    Interior Minister Rehman Malik vowed a thorough investigation, adding that the owner of Bhoja Air, Farooq Bhoja, has been prevented from leaving the country to ensure his cooperation with the investigation.
    The plane's "black box", which records flight data, was recovered on Friday night, according to rescue authorities. And the investigation is underway.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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