Aviation

Plane Crashes in Pakistan With at Least 99 Aboard

A Pakistan International Airlines flight from Lahore, with 99 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.

EgyptAir plane crash ‘was caused by overheating iPad in cockpit

The plane went down in a residential area – Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir – just short of the Karachi airport.

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 Abdul Sattar Khokhar, the spokesman for the country’s aviation authority, as saying.

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.

Courtesy : NDTV

Aviation

Air India’s US Service Takes a Hit with 60 Flight Cancellations This Peak Season

Air India, owned by the Tata Group, has announced the cancellation of around 60 US-bound flights scheduled for the busy travel months of November and December.

Traditionally, airfares between India and the US climb significantly during this period, and these cancellations are anticipated to push prices even higher, impacting both non-stop and connecting routes.

First Look: IndiGo Takes Delivery of A321neo with New Business Class

The affected flights air india new routes include those from Delhi to Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, along with flights from Mumbai to New York. Currently, Air India remains the only Indian airline offering direct services to the US.

The airline attributed the cancellations to delays in returning several aircraft from intensive maintenance, alongside supply chain issues that have temporarily reduced its operational fleet.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the airline has had to cancel a “small number” of flights due to delays from its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider.

Russia Seeks Talks with India, Offers Tu-160 Bombers at Unbeatable Prices

Additionally, some wide-body aircraft remain grounded due to technical issues, exacerbating the shortage of available aircraft.

The spokesperson added, “Due to the delayed return of some aircraft from heavy maintenance and supply chain constraints resulting in a temporary reduction in operating fleet, Air India regrets that a small number of flights have been cancelled between now and December end.”

Air India has assured affected passengers of a full refund, the option to reschedule for another date, or rebooking on nearby flights operated by the air india group, while expressing its apologies for the inconvenience caused by factors beyond its control.