ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- An Islamabad bound flight of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with 47 people onboard crashed near Abbottabad city of Khyber Pakhtunka province of Pakistan on Wednesday, said officials.
PIA spokesman Daniyal Gilani said in a statement that PIA's ATR-42 aircraft, operating as PK-661, was carrying around 42 persons, including 5 crew members. It lost its contact with the control tower on its way from Chitral to Islamabad.
The plane crashed at the Patola village near Abbottabad after takeoff, said reports.
Pakistan Army and civil administration has sent helicopter and rescue teams to trace the plane.
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has directed concerned federal departments to immediately initiate rescue efforts and help the provincial government. (end) sbk.nfm