April 21, 2012

All 127 people on board a Bhoja Air Boeing 737 have been killed after the plane crashed several kilometers short of Islamabad airport. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry confirms there are no survivors.

“There is no chance of any survivors. It will be only a miracle. The plane is totally destroyed,” police officer Fazle Akbar said.

Fears were high the death toll might rise as the plane crashed in a residential area. But Islamabad police chief Bani Yameen says that nobody on the ground appears to be killed. The plane only hit some electricity poles, blanketing the area in darkness, reports Reuters.

The fire put out, emergency workers searched among smoldering wreckage and body parts for any sign of life at the crash site just a few kilometers from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. At least 110 bodies have been recovered from the scene. The wreckage,  including smashed seats, clothes and jewelry belonging to passengers, was spread out over a one-kilometer wide area.

“I saw nothing but body parts and twisted metal on the ground when reached the scene,” said local resident Mustafa, who only gave one name to the Associated Press. “We collected up small pieces of human flesh and bundled them in cloth sheets like we collect grain.”

Bhoja Airlines flight BHO-213 was flying from Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and a major seaport, to Islamabad when it crashed in bad weather, as the country’s Civilian Aviation Authority confirmed.

Four children are believed to be among the victims. Local media say a newly wed couple was on board with plans to spend their honeymoon in the capital.

“My brother’s wife was on board this flight,” says Naveed Khan, who is one among family members gathered at Karachi’s airport. “We pray for their departed souls, what else can we do now?“

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Ball of fire in the sky

Bhoja Air said the airplane crashed during its approach in Islamabad due to bad weather. A violent rain, wind and thunder storm was lashing the capital at the time of the crash, which occurred about 6:40 pm local time.

Witnesses say the plane was already ablaze, when it was descending. Pakistani media report it was struck by a lightning.

“It was really bad weather for a flight,” said Navy captain Arshad Mahmood, who lives near the crash site. “The pilot was forced to move down to avoid clouds that were generating the lightening and thunder.“

The crew was informed of poor weather conditions, but took the risk, says Geo News.

Other reports suggest navigation devices were malfunctioning and the aircraft itself had been in use for over 25 years. The vehicle was reportedly purchased from the Shaheen Airlines after the latter scrapped it for its compromised flight-worthiness.

Bhoja Air is a privately owned domestic operator with its headquarters in Karachi. In 2000 the company had to suspend business due to financial problems. In 2011 it was re-launched and carried out its first flight in March 2012. Its fleet is reported to comprise four Boeing 737-200 and one Boeing 737-400. Friday was the airline’s first evening flight from Karachi, a Bhoja Air official said.

Inter-city travel in Pakistan is most efficient by air, but plane crashes are relatively rare. The latest major accident happened in 2010. An Airbus 321 passenger jet crashed into hills overlooking Islamabad while coming in to land after a flight from Karachi, killing 152 people on board.

AFP Photo / Aamir Qureshi)

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