- Title: Relatives of Pakistan air crash victims gather at Islamabad airport
- Date: 7th December 2016
- Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) CARS OUTSIDE AIRPORT VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS AND RELATIVES OF VICTIMS GATHERED AT AIRPORT PEOPLE AT AIRPORT (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) RELATIVE OF PLANE CRASH VICTIM, SAYING: "His name is on the list but his death is not confirmed until PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) or some other authorities say he is actually dead." PEOPLE STANDING AT AIRPORT (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) SECRETARY AVIATION AND DIRECTOR OF PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES, MUHAMMAD IRFAN ELAHI, SAYING: "We will be looking for the black box and afterwards we will share the facts with you." PASSENGERS OUTSIDE AIRPORT
- Embargoed: 22nd December 2016 16:49
- Keywords: Pakistan Islamabad plane crash relatives airport
- Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- City: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BVYVRB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Relatives of victims of a plane crash in northern Pakistan gathered at Islamabad airport on Wednesday (December 7) seeking information about their loved ones, as aviation officials said it was unlikely there were any survivors among the dozens of passengers.
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane carrying about 40 people crashed on the slope of a mountain in about 125 km (77 miles) north of Islamabad at 4:42 p.m. (1142 GMT) on Wednesday.
The military said 36 bodies had been recovered and rescue efforts involved about 500 soldiers, doctors and paramedics.
PIA said its plane lost contact with the control tower en route to the capital, Islamabad, from the northern region of Chitral.
Irfan Elahi, the government's Aviation Secretary, told journalists the plane suffered engine problems but it was too early to determine the cause of the accident.
According to the flight manifest, there were three people on board with foreign names.
Plane crashes are not uncommon in Pakistan and safety standards are often criticised.
In recent years, media have reported on multiple near-misses as planes over-ran runways and engines caught fire.
In 1979 and 1992, PIA jets crashed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Kathmandu, killing 156 and 167 people, respectively.
In 2006, a PIA plane crashed near the central city of Multan killing 45 people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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