At least 76 dead in Pakistan plane crash

Speaking at a news conference earlier Friday, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) CEO Air Vice Marshal Arshad Malik said there were 99 people onboard including crew and passengers.

Pakistan plane did not hit building while reason for the crash remains unclear, airline CEO says.

The Pakistan commercial flight did not crash into a building and no bodies of residents have been retrieved, according to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) CEO Air Vice Marshal Arshad Malik.

Malik said at a news conference in Karachi Friday that they are tracking the number of dead by coordinating with local hospitals which will take at least two days.All checks and certifications had been in place, nothing was pending and the airline was operationally and administratively good to go, Malik added.

“Air travel is the safest. PIA’s pilots and engineers follow SOPs [standard operating procedures] and are highly qualified A320 is one of the safest planes in the industry," he said.

Malik could not yet confirm why the accident took place but said there will be a proper inquiry.

Some context: There were 99 people including crew and passengers onboard.

The pilot said he was ready to land but then made a second approach when something went wrong. Malik said they will know more about what happened when the flight recorder is retrieved.