Airbus Updates No.2673

Flight recorders of crashed PIA Airbus A320 recovered

The flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Airbus A320 that crashed on 22 May have been recovered.

Media reports from Pakistan quote PIA as saying that both devices were found on Saturday 23 May, a day after the aircraft crashed in an urban area.

The aircraft had operated flight PK8303 from Lahore and crashed while the crew attempted to conduct a go around.

Video images on social media purporting to show the aircraft’s final moments indicate that it descended into a built-up area with a high nose attitude and its landing-gear deployed.

The aircraft bore the registration AP-BLD (MSN 2274)) and 91 passengers and eight crew were aboard. Reports from Pakistan suggest the death toll stands at 97. While some of those on the aircraft survived the disaster, there were fatalities on the ground.

Cirium fleets analyser shows that AP-BLD is managed by GECAS. It served with China Eastern Airlines from 2003 to 2014, when it moved to PIA. It was powered by a pair of CFM International CFM56 engines.

Pakistan will lead the enquiry with assistance from Airbus through French investigation authority BEA. PIA and CFM will also support the probe.

Airbus Updates No.2665

PIA Airbus A320 Crashes While Landing at the Karachi International

May 22, 2020  

Karachi, Pakistan - A Pakistan International Airlines flight from Lahore, with 107 on board, crashed near the Karachi airport, just a minute before it was to land this afternoon. There are no reports on any survivors yet.

Reports in Pakistan media say the flight was an Airbus A320, which went down in a residential area.

The wreckage and several houses in the area are on fire, visuals by Pakistan media showed. Smoke could also be seen billowing in the sky.

"The plane crashed in Karachi. We are trying to confirm the number of passengers but initially, it is 99 passengers and eight crew members,"

news agency AFP quoted.

The Pakistan media reported that Pak Army Quick Reaction Force and Pakistan Rangers are at the crash site to assist in relief and rescue efforts.

The crash comes just days after Pakistan began allowing commercial flights to resume. Karachi and Lahore are about 1020 km apart and it takes nearly seven and a half hours for a flight to cover the distance.

 

Crash: PIA A320 at Karachi on May 22nd 2020, impacted residential area during final approach

By Simon Hradecky, created Friday, May 22nd 2020 10:30Z, last updated Friday, May 22nd 2020 11:32Z A PIA Pakistan International Airlines A320-200, registration AP-BLD performing flight PK-8303 from Lahore to Karachi (Pakistan) with 90 passengers and 8 crew, had aborted the approach to Karachi due to problems with extension of the landing gear and performed a go around. While on second final approach the crew declared Mayday repeatedly reporting they had lost both engines. Tower cleared the aircraft to land on either runway 25 (25L or R). The aircraft lost height and impacted a residential area called Model Colony, featuring concrete multistorey buldings on second final approach east of the aerodrome (presumably while on final approach to runway 25L) and burst into flames at about 14:37L (09:37Z). On the ground five multistorey houses are being reported to have been de-roofed and set ablaze, debris is distributed over the streets. Rescue and recovery services are on their way to the crash site. Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority have declared emergency for Karachi Airport. The airline reported the aircraft carried 90 passengers and 8 crew. So far no information is available whether there are survivors. Saying anything more would be premature. The aircraft was scheduled to land at 14:45L (09:45Z).