Firing at PIA plane leaves one woman dead, two staff injured

PESHAWAR: One woman passenger was killed and two flight stewards were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a PIA plane while it was landing at the airport here, an injured staff said.

The PIA flight PK756, carrying nearly 180 passengers from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to Peshawar, was fired upon for two minutes before landing at the Bacha Khan International Airport late yesterday night.

A woman passenger was killed and two flight stewards- Wajid and Ijaz- were injured.

Wajid, who sustained bullet injuries in his leg, said the plane was at an altitude of 250 to 300 feet height when gunshot hit the plane at the back side. Luckily Captain Tariq Chaudhry safely landed the plane at the airport and averted a catastrophe.

The fire shots came from the adjacent Tehkal area side, he said.

His colleague flight steward Ijaz received three bullet wounds and shifted to CMH Peshawar and was being operated upon, Wajid said.

Meanwhile, a Peshawar-bound flight coming from Kuala Lumpur was diverted to Lahore airport as PIA authorities immediately suspended flight operations at the airport.

Security forces immediately launched search operations in the suspected areas around the airport to nab the culprits.