Asia

Pakistani national carrier's plane missing after takeoff

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Pakistani media and residents gather at Benazir Bhutto International Airport following a report that a passenger plane from Chitral, in the country's north, had crashed near a village near the town of Havelian, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Pakistan International Airlines said that the ATR-42 aircraft carrying around 40 passengers and crew lost touch with the control tower and that all resources are being mobilized. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

An airport security officer directs a motorcyclist at the entrance to the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Pakistani media and others gathered at Benazir Bhutto International Airport following a report that a passenger plane taking off from Chitral, in the country's north, had crashed near a village near the town of Havelian. Pakistan International Airlines said that the ATR-42 aircraft carrying around 40 passengers and crew lost touch with the control tower and that all resources are being mobilized. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

An airport security officer patrols the entrance to the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Pakistani media and others gathered at the airport following a report that a passenger plane taking off from Chitral, in the country's north, had crashed near a village near the town of Havelian. Pakistan International Airlines said that the ATR-42 aircraft carrying around 40 passengers and crew lost touch with the control tower and that all resources are being mobilized. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) (The Associated Press)

Pakistan's national carrier says one of its planes has gone missing after takeoff in the country's north with about 40 on board.

Daniyal Gilani, the spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines, says their ATR-42 aircraft carrying around 40 passengers and crew lost touch Wednesday with the control tower. He says all resources are being mobilized to locate the plane.

A local police official, Khursheed Tanoli, told state-run Pakistan Television that the plane went down in a village in the northwest and that rescuers are trying to reach the site of the crash.

No further details were immediately available.