MIRACLE SURVIVAL
Pakistan plane crash – Bank boss who was one of at least 2 survivors reveals ‘All I could see was smoke and fire’
THIS is the amazing moment a survivor is pulled from the wreckage of a plane crash in Pakistan which is feared to have left more than 90 people dead.
The Pakistan International Airlines jet crashed into houses on its final approach to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi when the pilot lost "two engines".
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Incredible footage later emerged which reportedly showed banker Zafar Masood being carried away from the burning jet after it erupted into a fireball on impact.
He was later pictured smiling on a stretcher after apparently escaping with just broken bones and scratches.
The CEO of the Bank of Punjab is reported to be one at least two passengers said to have dodged death in this afternoon's tragedy.
After being plucked from the wreckage of Flight PK 8303 he was taken to hospital for treatment to a broken hip and fractured collar bones.
"Thank you so much. God has been merciful," he said, according to officials who spoke to him there.
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One of the other survivors was Muhammad Zubair who was reportedly sitting at the front of the plane - which was carrying 98 people - near Masood who was seated in 1C.
He told Geo News how the pilot came down for one landing, briefly touched down, then took off again.
After around 10 more minutes of flying, the pilot announced to passengers he was going to make a second attempt, then crashed, Zubair revealed from his bed in Civil Hospital Karachi.
"All I could see around was smoke and fire," he added. "I could hear screams from all directions.
"Kids and adults. All I could see was fire. I couldn't see any people just hear their screams.
"I opened my seat belt and saw some light I went towards the light. I had to jump down about 10 feet to get to safety."
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Last night the local health department said it had recovered 57 bodies officials warned finding all the dead could take two to three days.
Prime minister Imran Khan's special adviser that so far there are seven survivors - but it wasn't clear whether he was including those plucked from the rubble of houses that were engulfed in the fireball.
According to witnesses, the aircraft circled the airport two or three times before plummeting into the residential area and destroying several buildings at 2.45pm local time today.
The pilot made one aborted landing attempt before reporting a technical problem, according to local media reports.
Moments before the crash, the desperate pilot contacted air traffic control saying: "We have lost two engines. Mayday, mayday, mayday. It's serious."
One senior civil aviation official said it appeared the plane had been unable to lower its wheels for landing due to a technical fault, but it was too early to determine the cause.
Pictures emerging from the scene show bodies being carried away from the wreckage by emergency workers.
And video has been posted online showing the the Airbus A320 plummeting towards the ground.
Pictures from near the scene show clouds of thick black smoke billowing into the air above the residential area.
Pakistani model Zara Abid, who has nearly 80,000 Instagram followers, is believed to be one of the victims on the doomed aircraft.
It has been reported that the social media star is missing and that her parents are desperately trying to contact her.
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PIA spokesman Abdullah H Khan said: "The last we heard from the pilot was that he has some technical problem. It is a very tragic incident."
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted: "Shocked & saddened by the PIA crash. . . Immediate inquiry will be instituted.
“Prayers & condolences go to families of the deceased."
The jet crashed near the southern port city of Karachi, Abdul Sattar Kokhar, spokesman for the civil aviation authority, confirmed.
Arriving from the eastern city of Lahore, the plane appeared to attempt to land two or three times before crashing, witnesses said.
Model Colony, a residential area on the edge of the airport, is a poor area which is heavily congested.
CCTV captures moment Pakistan International Airlines plane crashes into houses near Karachi Airport as mayday call from pilot released
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A local resident, Abdul Rahman, said he saw the aircraft circling at least three times while attempting to land before it crashed into several houses.
Police and military have cordoned off the area.
Local TV station Geo showed crowds near the densely populated scene and ambulances trying to make their way through.
Airbus did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the crash.
The flight from the northeastern city of Lahore to Karachi typically takes an hour and a half to travel.
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