A timeline of major plane crashes in Pakistan

In yet another tragic chapter of Pakistan’s aviation history, Karachi-bound flight PK-8303 of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from Lahore – carrying 91 passengers and eight crew members – crashed on Friday in a residential area near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, less than a minute before it was scheduled to land.

A majority among the 91 passengers was of those who were heading back home to celebrate Eid in Karachi, as the government lifted the ban imposed on domestic air travel to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Only two male passengers of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK8303 from Lahore to Karachi survived the crash that wasn’t the first in Pakistan’s history.

During the last 64 years and about three months, or since February 25, 1956, numerous Pakistani passenger planes have met painful aviation tragedies that left hundreds dead.

Following is a chronology of major air crashes in the country or involving Pakistani planes:

Freight Plane 

A Gilgit-Rawalpindi freight plane crashed near the village of Jalkot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on February 25, 1956, due to rain, sleet, and thunderstorm, killing all three people on board. This was the earliest aviation incident that happened in Pakistan.

Inaugural flight to London (PIA Boeing 707)

A PIA Boeing 707 on May 20, 1965, crashed on its inaugural flight while attempting to land at Cairo airport, killing 124 people. According to details, the aircraft did not maintain adequate height for the circuit and continued to descend until it contacted the ground.  

PIA Fokker F27 (2 incidents)

On August 6, 1970, a PIA Fokker F27 turboprop aircraft crashes while attempting to take off from Islamabad in a thunderstorm, killing all 30 people on board. Another PIA Fokker F27 crashed on December 8, 1972 in Rawalpindi. All 26 people on board were killed.

Pakistani Haj Pilgrims

A PIA Boeing 707 bringing home Pakistani Haj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia crashed shortly after take-off from Jeddah airport, killing 156 people.

Zia-ul-Haq’s aircraft

A US-made Hercules C-130 military aircraft crashed near Bahawalpur, killing military ruler General Mohammad Zia ul Haq and 30 others including army generals and the US ambassador.

PIA Airbus A300

A PIA Airbus A300 on September 28, 1992, crashed into a cloud-covered hillside on approach to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu after the plane descended too early, killing 167 people.

PAF Fokker F27

An air force Fokker F27 on February 19, 2003, crashed in fog-shrouded mountains near Kohat, killing air force chief Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali, his wife, and 15 others.

CESSNA 402-B

A chartered Cessna 402-B carrying Afghan Mines and Industries Minister Juma Mohammad Mohammadi, four Afghan officials, a Chinese mining executive, and two Pakistani crew members crashed into the Arabian Sea near the southern city of Karachi on February 24, 2003.

Airblue Airbus 321

An Airblue Airbus 321 flying from Karachi crashed into hills outside Islamabad on July 28, 2010, while preparing to land, killing all 152 people on board.

JS AIR

A twin-engine plane operated by Pakistani charter JS Air carrying staff from an Italian oil company crashes shortly after take-off in Karachi on November 5 2010, killing all 21 people on board.

BHOJA AIR AIRBUS 737

A Bhoja Air Airbus 737 from Karachi comes down in bad weather near Islamabad on April 2o, 2012. Officials say up to 130 people are on board and there was no chance of survivors.

PIA ATR-42

A PIA ATR-42 aircraft crashed en route from Chitral to Islamabad on December 7, 2016, killing all 48 passengers and crew on board including renowned personality Junaid Jamshed.

The most important thing is that committees are formed to investigate accidents and incidents of the aircraft in Pakistan but reports never come out. A four-member committee has been formed to investigate the accident that took place yesterday and will determine the cause of the accident. The report of this plane crash should be made public and those responsible for this crash should be punished.