by B. N. Sullivan
An Ilyushin IL-76 freighter has crashed shortly after takeoff from Karachi, Pakistan. The aircraft, operating as Sun Way flight MGC-4412, had just departed Karachi, bound for Khartoum, Sudan. It crashed into a residential area and burned. Local authorities say that there were no survivors among the eight crew members on board. Fatalities and injuries on the ground also have been reported, although the number of casualties has not been determined.
The accident happened just before 02:00 AM local time, on November 28, 2010. Eyewitness reports suggest an engine may have been on fire prior to the crash, and that the aircraft may have been attempting to return to the airport. The engine fire has not been confirmed by official sources.
Geo News reports that the accident site is "near Dalmia area in Gulistan-e-Johar locality." News media say that the aircraft crashed into a building that was under construction, near residential apartments housing Pakistani Navy officers. The crash sparked what has been described as a massive blaze.
A dramatic photo of the crash site has been posted to the MSNBC.com Photo Blog. Geo TV aired live streaming video of the burning accident site, some of which was also broadcast by CNN. RTVCHD posted this video on YouTube:
If the video does not play or display properly above, click here to view it on YouTube.
