Provisional probe report of PIA crash will be made public on June 22, says Sarwar

Report will not give reprieve to any person responsible for the incident, says aviation minister

Federal Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar on Thursday said that the provisional investigation report of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) airplane crash will be put before the cabinet and public on June 22, Radio Pakistan reported.

The ill-fated aircraft, flying from Lahore to Karachi, crashed near the port city’s airport in the densely populated area of Model Colony on Friday.

PIA flight PK8303 had 91 passengers and eight crew members on board during the time of the incident. The crash caused significant damage in the residential area and reportedly destroyed four houses. Two passengers miraculously survived the deadly crash.



The plane was close to landing when it came down among houses, sparking an explosion and sending plumes of smoke into the air that could be seen from some distance away.

Addressing a media briefing in Islamabad, Sarwar said that the investigation process will be free, fair and transparent and without any influence. "The report will not give reprieve to any person responsible for the incident."

He said the investigation board has the authority to include any stakeholder during the investigation. "Recorders for voice conversation and data have been recovered which will be taken to France by an Airbus team for decoding and further analysis," he added.

51 bodies identified

Sarwar said that 51 bodies have been identified so far after their DNA tests were held and handed over to their relatives and added that the remaining bodies are in various morgues and were being DNA tested.



He said the government will give a compensation of Rs1 million to relatives of each deceased. The aviation minister also said the insurance money will be in addition to this amount.

Sarwar said that he held a teleconference with PIA management immediately after the plane crash. The team of Airbus, he said, reached Karachi on 26th of this month.

He said 12 to 15 houses were badly damaged when the plane hit them.