Missing Pakistan plane crashes with up to 47 passengers on board

There are unlikely to be any survivors from the plane crash, a government official has said

  

ISLAMABAD: There are unlikely to be any survivors from a Pakistani plane carrying up to 47 passengers that crashed in the northern Chitral region, a government official has said.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) confirmed in a statement that Flight PK-661 - an ATR 42 twin-turboprop - had lost contact with air traffic controllers on Wednesday afternoon while en route to Islambad from Chitral.

The plane crashed in the Havelian area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, around 125km (77miles) north of Islamabad.

Pakistan's army has recovered 21 bodies from the wreckage, according to the military.

"Rescue effort continues. 21 bodies recovered so far," the military's media wing, ISPR, said in a statement. 

According to a government official based in Havelian: "All of the bodies are burned beyond recognition. The debris is scattered."

Earlier today, a statement from Danyal Gilani, General Manager of Public Affairs and Spokesman for PIA, cofirmed the crash: "PK-661 carrying around 40 persons lost its contact with control tower on its way from Chitral to Islamabad a short wile ago.

"All resources are being mobilised to locate the aircraft."

Pakistani pop star turned Evangelical cleric, Junaid Jamshed, was on board the crashing aircraft, his manager told CNN.

According to the flight manifest, there were several people on board with foreign names.

An emergency response centre has been activated and can be accessed via the following phone numbers for updates: 0092-21-99044890, 0092-21-99044376, and 0092-21-99044394.