29 Jul 2010

No survivors in Pakistan plane crash

9:40 pm on 29 July 2010

Pakistani officials say there are no survivors from a passenger plane that crashed with 152 people on board near the capital, Islamabad.

The Airbus 321 broke up and caught fire after crashing into Margalla Hills just north of the city as it was about to land on Wednesday.

Civil aviation officials say the pilot of the Airblue domestic flight from Karachi lost contact with air traffic controllers shortly before the crash.

Witnesses say the plane was flying at low altitude during bad weather.

Dozens of bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. Relatives of the victims have been waiting for bodies to be released for identification.

The interior ministry initially said at least five survivors had been taken to hospital, but local officials later said those reports were wrong.

A day of national mourning has been declared. It was Pakistan's worst air disaster.

Flags are flying at half mast from all public buildings.

The BBC reports the flight data recorder has been found.