PIA plane crash survivor narrates miraculous escape from wreckage
The plane had already made a failed attempt at landing and people were nervous, but there was no inkling the plane would crash
May 22, 2020
Muhammad Zubair, a fortunate survivor from Friday's PIA plane crash incident, has narrated that passengers aboard the plane had been nervous after a failed first attempt at landing the aircraft, but there was no indication that they would crash.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-8303 from Lahore to Karachi had crashed into a residential area right outside Karachi's Jinnah International Airport a few moments before landing.
According to a list released by the airline, 51 men, 31 women and nine children were aboard the aircraft. None except two survived the tragedy.
Read more: Passenger list of ill-fated PK-8303
Sharing his account on Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath', Zubair said: "I am feeling well so far, but my hands and feet have been burnt a bit."
"I was coming to Karachi for Eid holidays and the flight left the airport at 1[pm] from Lahore, it was flying fine then. When the pilot announced that we are landing in Karachi and he took the plane a bit down, two or three shocks were felt," Zubair said. He was describing the first attempt by the plane to land, which is believed to have been aborted because of a landing gear failure.
The survivor said that the pilot then flew the plane up, after which the passengers started praying. For the next 10-15 minutes, the plane was in the air.
Read more: CEO says aircraft was 'technically sound', aviation ministry to oversee inquiry
"After analysing the situation and viewing a place where there was not much rush, he [the pilot] announced that he was landing the plane," Zubair narrated.
“The next moment, there was a hard crash and I lost consciousness,” said Zubair, adding that when he came to there was ‘smoke everywhere’.
"I could hear screams from all directions. Kids and adults. All I could see was fire. I couldn’t see any people – just hear their screams.
"I opened my seat belt and saw some light – I went towards the light. I had to jump down about 10 feet to get to safety.”
Read more: PM Imran orders urgent probe into PIA plane crash
"I was then taken to Jinnah hospital and now I am in Civil hospital."
When asked if the pilot announced anything after the shocks were felt and what was the duration in between the two landing attempts, he said: "The time duration was in between 10-15 minutes and the plane crashed nearly 2-3 minutes after he announced that the plane was about to land."
"No one [passengers] was aware that the plane about to crash, they were flying the plane in a smooth manner," he said.
Zubair said that there was no disturbance on the flight and that it was smooth until the crash.
