No survivors in plane crash north of Islamabad

A passenger plane carrying more than 150 people has crashed in the outskirts of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The Airblue flight from Karachi was heading for Islamabad when it came down in the Margalla Hills national park just to the north of the city on Wednesday morning.

Initial reports said that there were some survivors, but it was later announced that all 146 passengers and six crew had perished in the crash. The exact cause of the crash is not yet known.

Eye witnesses said that the Airbus A321 appeared to be flying low over houses as it came in towards Islamabad and others said that it had "lost balance" as it went down. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the hills that overlook Islamadbad as rescue efforts got underway.

Monsoon rains and heavy fog in around the Pakistan capital have led to the cancellation of several flights recently but the domestic flight from Karachi had been allowed to go ahead.

Soon after the plane came down Express 24/7 television journalist Sabur Ali Sayed reported: "A good number of rescue workers have reached the site. Other people have reached here on their own. The plane is totally destroyed. The pieces and parts scattered over a large distance. Some parts of the plane are still burning. Some bushes have been burnt." ·