Remains of 23 PK-661 crash victims sent to Pims for DNA testing
The remains of at least 23 victims of the the PK-661 plane crash near Havelian were transported to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad for DNA testing, the Press Information Department said Thursday as the country mourned one of the worst aviation disasters in its history.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight crashed into a hillside after one of its two turboprop engines failed while travelling from the city of Chitral to the capital, and burst into flames killing everyone on board.
The remains of the 48 victims will be handed over to their surviving relatives after identification.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a high-level meeting in Islamabad ordered an independent and transparent inquiry into the air crash, Radio Pakistan reported.
The PIA chairman, CEO, the Aviation Division secretary and the Civil Aviation director general briefed the premier on the accident, informing him that the crew and pilots operating flight PK-661 were experienced professionals with thousands of hours of flying experience under their belts. The PM was told the aircraft had undergone routine and regular maintenance and security checks and had been declared airworthy.
PM Nawaz directed the inquiry by completed under the safety board as soon as possible, and that a senior Pakistan Air Force officer be co-opted as a member of the inquiry committee.