The nation is remembering all the 98 martyrs of flight PK8303, who lost their n a horrendous plane crash near Jinnah International Airport, Karachi on May 22, 2020.
A year back, on the same day, 98 passengers and flight crew members, including supermodel Zara Abid had died in a PIA plane crash.
The PIA plane had crashed into a residential area near Model Colony in Karachi’s Malir neighbourhood after losing its engines. The PK-8303 tragedy has become the third most horrifying incident in aviation disaster in the country’s history.
An investigation into the plane crash, however, still remains unresolved.
According to a preliminary investigation report prepared by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board, the pilots were not focused and their lack of concentration caused the crash.
During the ill-fated flight, the pilots made a first landing attempt and the plane briefly touched the ground multiple times, before attempting to land for a second time.
What Happened To PK-8303?
The plane took off at 1.10 PM from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and the aircraft briefly touched Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport at 2.37 PM, but the captain took off again. The aircraft finally crash-landed over a residential area in Jinnah Garden, a kilometre away from the runway.
Shortly after, the aircraft touched down on the runway without the landing gear deployed. It experienced friction during the belly landing and flames began to appear due to the engine rubbing on the runway. Due to the high speed, the captain decided to ground the aircraft after a takeoff.
Cameras installed at the airport showed that the landing gear of the aircraft was still upon landing. After taking off again for a second approach to the runway, the aircraft remained in contact with the ground control tower for one minute and 16 seconds.
The pilot informed air traffic controllers about the jamming of the landing gear and engine failure. He sent two Mayday calls before the aircraft vanished from the map.
