40 survivors found in Islamabad plane crash

ISLAMABAD - At least 40 survivors have been found in the plane crash, which took place near Islamabad on Wednesday morning.

All the survivors have been given first-aid treatment, and have been shifted to local hospitals, the Xinhua news agency reports.

According to reports, 20 dead bodies, including that of the pilot have been recovered from the crash site.

The rescue work is still underway.

The tragedy took place at about 10 a.m. when a domestic passenger plane carrying 152 people, including six crewmembers, crashed behind the mountains of Margalla Hills.

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority said that the Airblue plane, which took off at 7.50 a.m. from Karachi to Islamabad, crashed minutes before landing.

The pilot was reportedly trying to land at Islamabad on schedule at 9.30 a.m., but was told to wait as the airport was busy.

Eyewitnesses said that the plane was flying at a very low altitude near Daman-e-Koh, and it might have crashed due to rough weather. (ANI)