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Pakistan in Mourning Following Deadly Plane Crash

   VOA News 29 July 2010
   People  carry casket of plane crash victim upon the arrival at Karachi
   airport, 29 July 2010.

Photo: AP

   People  carry casket of plane crash victim upon the arrival at Karachi
   airport, 29 July 2010.

   Pakistan  is  observing  a national day of mourning Thursday following
   the worst aviation accident in the country's history.
   A  plane  carrying  146 passengers and six crew members crashed into a
   remote hillside near Pakistan's capital Wednesday, killing everyone on
   board.
   Rescue  workers are still looking for the plane's flight data recorder
   as officials try to figure out what caused the crash.
   Pakistan's   Federal  Information  Minister  Qamar  Zaman  Kaira  said
   rescuers  had so far recovered 115 bodies, and that DNA tests would be
   needed to identify most of the remains.
   The  Airblue  jet was traveling from the southern port city of Karachi
   to  Islamabad when it crashed into the Margalla Hills while attempting
   to land in rainy and cloudy conditions.
   Witnesses  said  the  plane was flying very low just before the crash,
   while  an Airblue spokesman said the pilots did not send any emergency
   signals.
   Pakistani  President  Asif  Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
   Gilani expressed grief over the "tragic incident."
   U.S.  President  Barack  Obama  and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
   offered  condolences  to  the  families  of victims including two U.S.
   citizens.   They  said  the  American people stand with the people of
   Pakistan at this difficult time.
   U.N.  chief  Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply saddened by the tragic air
   crash  and  extended  his  heartfelt  condolences  to  the  people and
   government of Pakistan.  A U.N. statement said Mr. Ban wrote to Prime
   Minister  Gilani to express the sincere sympathy of the United Nations
   with Pakistan at this painful time.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
   

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