New Delhi: As many as 17 people died, including two pilots, as a small plane crashed into a residential area near Rawalpindi in Pakistan on early Tuesday morning. Rescue operations are underway.
According to reports, an army aviation aircraft was on a routine training when the plane suddenly lost signal and went down in the Mora Kalu village on the outskirts of Rawalpindi. Television footage of a local media showed blazing fire in the residential area.
In a statement, the military officials said that five among the deceased were soldiers. Farooq Butt, an official at the state-run emergency called 1122 to declare an emergency at hospitals as 10 had died in the crash. At least 20 people had been injured according to him.
Rescue officials said that the reason for the accident is still unknown as the plane suddenly lost control with the tower. However, the death toll could rise further as many of the injured are in a critical condition.