- PIA Flight 688
-
Pakistan International Airlines Flight 688 Accident summary Date 10 July 2006 Type Possible engine fire Site Multan, Pakistan Passengers 41 Crew 4 Injuries 0 Fatalities 45 (all) Survivors 0 Aircraft type Fokker F27 Operator Pakistan International Airlines Tail number AP-BAL Pakistan International Airlines Flight 688 (PK688, PIA688) was scheduled to operate from Multan to Lahore and Islamabad at 12:05 pm on 10 July 2006.[1] It crashed into a field[2] after bursting into flames a few minutes after takeoff[3] from Multan International Airport. All 41 passengers and four crewmembers on board were killed.[4]
Contents
Victims
The victims included Asmatullah Khan (Manager Legal Services) of PIA, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti and Justice Nazir Ahmed Siddiqui, who served on the Lahore High Court. Three military personnel, Vice-Chancellor of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naseer Khan, internationally renowned Pakistani Neurosurgeon Prof. Iftikhar Ali Raja and eight women, including two flight attendants and three doctors, were also among those killed. One of the flight attendants was pulled out alive, but later died.[5][6] A list of names of the passengers and crew killed in the plane crash is available on Dawn's website. According to the Daily Jang Lahore newspaper, no one was pulled alive from the plane.
Incident
The plane lost contact with the Multan International Airport control tower two minutes after takeoff.[4] The aircraft hit an electric power line before crashing into a wheat field.[1][2] The cause of the crash was reported to be an engine fire. Authorities have ruled out sabotage or terrorist involvement in the crash. Some witnesses reported seeing flames on the aircraft right after takeoff.[6]
Investigation
A special investigation team has been assembled by PIA that announced they will compile a report about the crash within a week of the accident.[7] At the same time, the Air League of PIA Employees Union has charged the PIA administration with responsibility for the crash. They argue that the airline operated flights with too few crew members, promoted incompetent officials, and carried out substandard overhaul work on aircraft, among other flaws.[8]
Following this incident, all PIA Fokker aircraft were withdrawn from service and replaced with ATR aircraft.
Investigation results
The investigation has been concluded and sent to Prime Minister for review.[1]
Aircraft details
Image of a Pakistan International Fokker F27 similar to the one that crashed
The aircraft was a Fokker F27 turboprop airplane with the following specifications:[9]
- Wing Span: 29.0 m (95 ft)
- Length: 23.10 m (76 ft)
- Height: 8.50 m (28 ft)
- Max takeoff weight: 19,731 kg (43,500 lb)
- Average Cruising Speed: 461 km/h (286 mph)
- Engines: 2x Rolls-Royce Dart Mk532-7 turboprops
References
- ^ a b "Dawn - Multan Plane Crash". dawn.com. 2006-07-10. Archived from the original on 2006-07-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20060715074236/http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/10/planecrash.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
- ^ a b "All 45 on Pakistani plane killed in crash". yahoo.com. 2006-07-10. Archived from the original on 2006-07-12. http://web.archive.org/web/20060712232037/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060710/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_air_crash. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
- ^ "Pakistan police: Crash kills 45". cnn.com. 2006-07-10. Archived from the original on 2006-07-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20060721014646/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/07/10/pakistan.aircrash.reut/index.html. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
- ^ a b "'No survivors' in Pakistan crash". news.bbc.co.uk. 2006-07-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5164280.stm. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
- ^ "45 dead in PIA Fokker crash". geo.tv. 2006-07-10. http://www.geo.tv/geonews/details.asp?id=123785. Retrieved 2006-07-10.[dead link]
- ^ a b "All 45 die in Pak. plane crash, sabotage ruled out". hindu.com. 2006-07-10. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200607101760.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-10.[dead link]
- ^ "Probe report into tragic Fokker plane crash within a week: Investigation team". onlinenews.com.pk. 2006-07-11. http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=99743. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
- ^ "PIA administration ’held’ responsible for crash". onlinenews.com.pk. 2006-07-11. http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=99758. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
- ^ "PIA Fleet". piac.com.pk. http://www.piac.com.pk/fleet/fokker_f_27.asp. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
External links
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- Aviation accidents and incidents in 2006
- Accidents and incidents involving the Fokker F27
- Pakistan International Airlines accidents and incidents
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