20 dead as plane crashes near Islamabad, 45 rescued

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani passenger plane carrying over 150 people today crashed into the heavily forested Margalla Hills surrounding Islamabad due to bad weather, police and rescue workers said. According to Times Now, 20 passengers are confirmed dead and 45 survivors have been airlifted. Rescue works were affected by bad weather and smoke and fire at the crash site, which is not accessible by tracks or roads.

The Airbus aircraft of the private airline Air Blue hit the Margalla Hills near the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint this morning, officials of the police and a state-run rescue service said.

The aircraft, flying from Turkey to Islamabad via Karachi, was preparing to land when it crashed, said Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Spokesman Pervez George.

"There were 146 passengers and six crew on board," he said. "When it was preparing to land, it crashed in the Margalla Hills."

Islamabad has been hit by heavy rains for the past few days and the city was covered by fog and low clouds.

An army helicopter surveyed the crash site at about 10.30 am but could not land at the spot.

Civil aviation officials said the aircraft had disappeared from radar screens shortly before the crash was reported. It had taken off from Karachi at 7.50 am.

Footage aired on TV news channels showed white smoke rising from the thick forests in the Margalla Hills. Witnesses said they had seen flames in the wreckage of the aircraft.

Authorities declared an emergency in all hospitals in Islamabad.