"Mayday, Mayday" the last terrifying moments before the ill-fated plane crash, when the pilot, Sajjad Gul, maintained all resolve in a heartbreaking call with the Air Traffic Controller, as he reported the loss of both engines while attempting to land from Lahore to Karachi.
The flight which crash-landed into an apartment complex in Model Colony, near Jinnah International Airport, had 99 passengers on board including crew members, with 2 confirmed survivors at the moment. The reason for the tragic accident is unknown but an aviation official has told Reuters that the plane was unable to lower its undercarriage which led to the incident in the last few days of Ramadan, when people were coming home to prepare for Eid celebrations.
So far, it has been confirmed that Zafar Masood, the president of the Bank of Punjab has survived, along with a passenger Muhammad Zubair, who suffered minor injuries. Other passengers on the flight include senior journalist of 24News, Ansar Naqvi, the previous head of Punjab Disaster Management Authority, Khalid Sherdil and fashion model Zara Abid.
As the terrible news came the nation reacted and responded to the unfortunate travesty, including many celebrities who offered their condolences to the victims and their families, as the whole country and beyond mourned the loss of precious lives.
The domestic flights had only recently been resumed as the nation began to ease lengthy lockdown measures, after coronavirus clamed over 1,000 lives in the country. Prime Minister Imran Khan has thanked world leaders for their condolences and launched an immediate inquiry into the appalling crash, being the third in the country after the horrendous PIA Embrauer ATR aircraft 2016 crash and the deadly Air Blue disaster in 2010.
We have hope that our brave civilians will come to the aid of any suffering after witnessing people gathering, helping and rescuing yesterday as the terrifying aftermath unfolded, and citizens, Faisal Edhi, firefighters and those who live in Model Colony came to help out as much as they could, a unified nation.
