Passenger Plane Carrying 152 People Crashes Near Islamabad

A Pakistani passenger plane carrying at least 152 people crashed on Wednesday in the hills near Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, civil aviation officials and local media said. Rescuers were struggling to reach the aircraft and Reuters reported that at least five bodies had been recovered so far.

Photo: Passenger Plane Carrying 152 People Crashes Near Islamabad

There was no immediate information on survivors, New York Times reports.

The Airblue airliner, on its way from Karachi to the capital, had been flying through heavy fog and rain when it lost contact with air traffic control and crashed about 10 a.m. local time in the Margalla Hills region, authorities said.

Rescuers were trying to reach the scene amid heavy rain and difficult roads. Pervaiz George, spokesman for the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority, said there were 146 passengers and six crew members aboard.

Mohammed Usman, an official at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, said dozens of relatives of passengers gathered there were crying and desperate to get information about their loved ones, The Los Angeles Times reports.