Moments later, the Pakistan International Airlines flight crashed into a crowded neighbourhood near Karachi's international airport, killing 97 people, all of whom are believed to be passengers and crew members.

The plane crashed at 2:39 p.m. near Jinnah International Airport, in the poor and congested residential area known as Model Colony.

In a telephone interview from his hospital bed, Zubair, a mechanical engineer, said flight PK8303 had taken off on time from the eastern city of Lahore at 1 p.m.

It was a smooth, uneventful flight until the aircraft began its descent near Karachi shortly before 3:00 p.m.

“Suddenly the plane jerked violently, once and then again,” said Zubair.

Many of the passengers aboard the flight were families returning home for the holiday, said Science Minister Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry.