The pilot of Pakistan International Airlines flight 661 gave a distress signal to air traffic control before crashing near the town of Havelian, in Northern Pakistan. The aircraft had departed Peshawar on a Dec. 6 bound for the capital Islamabad, carrying 47 people. Passengers included an Islamic preacher and singer Junaid Jamshed.
A spokesman for the airline said that the plane had 42 passengers and five crew on board. Eleven were women and children.
Eyewitnesses saw the plane crash into a hilly area near the garrison town of Abbottabad – The town where US special forces reportedly killed Osama Bin Laden back in 2011. Large clouds of smoke billowed from the accident site as the Pakistani Army sent a helicopter and troops. A ground rescue team were also on the scene, officials said.
UPDATE: At least 43 bodies have been recovered from the crash site, Pakistani police said. Forty-eight people were on board.
(NTD Television)
