08/06/2024
Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 was a domestic flight from Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi that crashed on May 22, 2020. Here are some key details about the crash:
1. Aircraft: The flight was operated using an Airbus A320-214 aircraft, registration AP-BLD.
2. Crash Circumstances: The aircraft crashed into a residential area called Model Colony near Karachi's Jinnah International Airport during its second attempt to land. The first landing attempt was aborted due to a technical issue.
3. Crew and Passengers: There were 99 people on board, including 91 passengers and 8 crew members.
4. Survivors: Miraculously, two passengers survived the crash.
5. Casualties on Ground: Several residents of the area were also injured, and a few houses were damaged by the crash.
6. Cause of the Crash: Initial investigations suggested that the plane suffered from technical failures. The pilot reported engine failure and declared a Mayday just before the crash. Subsequent investigations revealed that the pilots were distracted and did not follow standard operating procedures, including lowering the landing gear in time for the initial approach, which caused the engines to scrape the runway.
7. Investigations: The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), along with international aviation safety agencies, conducted a thorough investigation to determine the precise causes and contributing factors of the crash.
The crash of PIA Flight 8303 was a tragic event that highlighted the importance of strict adherence to aviation safety protocols and procedures.