[28/July/2010]

ISLAMABAD, July 28 (Saba) -- All 152 passengers with eight crew members on board were killed in an unfortunate plane accident Wednesday morning in the hills of Islamabad, said federal ministers, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Federal Information Minister, Qamar-u-Zaman Kaira and Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik told news reporters that all passengers of the crashed plane have been killed.

Earlier, the reports were suggesting that more than ten wounded have been rescued and shifted to a nearby hospital. However, the ministers said that there was no survivor of the tragic incident. A plane of domestic airline, Air Blue, was flying to Islamabad from Karachi when it hit a mountain of Margala Hill and crashed.

The rescuers with the help of army helicopters rummaged through the debris for more than seven hours in search of survivors. At least ten wounded were retrieved but, unfortunately, they succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

The federal cabinet has announced to observe mourning day on Friday. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. George Pervez, the spokesman of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said that it could be because of the rainy weather. However, he added, it would be premature to say anything.

Saba