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THIS is the amazing moment a survivor is pulled from the wreckage of a plane crash in Pakistan which is feared to have left more than 90 people dead.

The Pakistan International Airlines jet crashed into houses on its final approach to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi when the pilot lost "two engines".

 The moment banker Zafar Masood is pulled from the wreckage
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The moment banker Zafar Masood is pulled from the wreckageCredit: Sky News
 Smoking wreckage from the crash is seen in the packed residential area of Model Colony
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Smoking wreckage from the crash is seen in the packed residential area of Model ColonyCredit: AFP or licensors
 Zafar Masood is said to have escaped with just scratches and broken bones
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Zafar Masood is said to have escaped with just scratches and broken bonesCredit: Twitter/24News

Incredible footage later emerged which reportedly showed banker Zafar Masood being carried away from the burning jet after it erupted into a fireball on impact.

He was later pictured smiling on a stretcher after apparently escaping with just broken bones and scratches.

The CEO of the Bank of Punjab is reported to be one at least two passengers said to have dodged death in this afternoon's tragedy.

After being plucked from the wreckage of Flight PK 8303 he was taken to hospital for treatment to a broken hip and fractured collar bones.

"Thank you so much. God has been merciful," he said, according to officials who spoke to him there.

 Muhammad Zubair described the true horror of the plane tragedy
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Muhammad Zubair described the true horror of the plane tragedyCredit: Twitter
 The plane was pictured in the moments before it came down
The plane was pictured in the moments before it came down
 Rescuers at the scene of this afternoon's tragedy
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Rescuers at the scene of this afternoon's tragedyCredit: EPA
 Emergency workers try to put out the crash fire with water as bodies are carried away
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Emergency workers try to put out the crash fire with water as bodies are carried awayCredit: AFP or licensors
 A miracle baby was pulled alive from the wreckage during a live news report
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A miracle baby was pulled alive from the wreckage during a live news reportCredit: 92news

One of the other survivors was Muhammad Zubair who was reportedly sitting at the front of the plane - which was carrying 98 people -  near Masood who was seated in 1C.

He told Geo News how the pilot came down for one landing, briefly touched down, then took off again.

After around 10 more minutes of flying, the pilot announced to passengers he was going to make a second attempt, then crashed, Zubair revealed from his bed in Civil Hospital Karachi.

"All I could see around was smoke and fire," he added. "I could hear screams from all directions.

"Kids and adults. All I could see was fire. I couldn't see any people just hear their screams.

"I opened my seat belt and saw some light I went towards the light. I had to jump down about 10 feet to get to safety."

 Emergency workers carry a body away from the wreckage
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Emergency workers carry a body away from the wreckageCredit: AFP or licensors
 Emergency officials work to put out the pockets of fire in the plane's twisted steel
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Emergency officials work to put out the pockets of fire in the plane's twisted steelCredit: AFP or licensors

Last night the local health department said it had recovered 57 bodies officials warned finding all the dead could take two to three days.

Prime minister Imran Khan's special adviser told Sky News that so far there are seven survivors - but it wasn't clear whether he was including those plucked from the rubble of houses that were engulfed in the fireball.

According to witnesses, the aircraft circled the airport two or three times before plummeting into the residential area and destroying several buildings at 2.45pm local time today.

The pilot made one aborted landing attempt before reporting a technical problem, according to local media reports.

Moments before the crash, the desperate pilot contacted air traffic control saying: "We have lost two engines. Mayday, mayday, mayday. It's serious."

One senior civil aviation official said it appeared the plane had been unable to lower its wheels for landing due to a technical fault, but it was too early to determine the cause.

Pictures emerging from the scene show bodies being carried away from the wreckage by emergency workers.

And video has been posted online showing the the Airbus A320 plummeting towards the ground.

Pictures from near the scene show clouds of thick black smoke billowing into the air above the residential area.

Pakistani model Zara Abid, who has nearly 80,000 Instagram followers, is believed to be one of the victims on the doomed aircraft.

It has been reported that the social media star is missing and that her parents are desperately trying to contact her.

 Model Zara Abid is believed to be one of the crash victims
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Model Zara Abid is believed to be one of the crash victimsCredit: Instagram
 Witnesses said the plane circled over the airport two or three times before crashing
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Witnesses said the plane circled over the airport two or three times before crashingCredit: Reuters
 A man finds some wreckage on a rooftop in Model Colony
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A man finds some wreckage on a rooftop in Model ColonyCredit: AFP or licensors
 A child, apparently injured when the jet crashed into the residential area, watches on with his father
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A child, apparently injured when the jet crashed into the residential area, watches on with his fatherCredit: EPA
 Model Colony is a busy residential area near the airport
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Model Colony is a busy residential area near the airportCredit: Reuters
 Emergency workers carry another body away from the scene of the deadly crash
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Emergency workers carry another body away from the scene of the deadly crashCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Authorities sift through the smouldering wreckage searching for bodies
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Authorities sift through the smouldering wreckage searching for bodiesCredit: AFP or licensors
 A child is carried away from the crash scene which left several houses destroyed
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A child is carried away from the crash scene which left several houses destroyedCredit: Twitter
 One of the plane doors is seen wrenched off lying on the ground
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One of the plane doors is seen wrenched off lying on the ground

PIA spokesman Abdullah H Khan said: "The last we heard from the pilot was that he has some technical problem. It is a very tragic incident."

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted: "Shocked & saddened by the PIA crash. . . Immediate inquiry will be instituted.

“Prayers & condolences go to families of the deceased."

The jet crashed near the southern port city of Karachi, Abdul Sattar Kokhar, spokesman for the civil aviation authority, confirmed.

Arriving from the eastern city of Lahore, the plane appeared to attempt to land two or three times before crashing, witnesses said.

Model Colony, a residential area on the edge of the airport, is a poor area which is heavily congested.

CCTV captures moment Pakistan International Airlines plane crashes into houses near Karachi Airport as mayday call from pilot released

A local resident, Abdul Rahman, said he saw the aircraft circling at least three times while attempting to land before it crashed into several houses.

Police and military have cordoned off the area.

Local TV station Geo showed crowds near the densely populated scene and ambulances trying to make their way through.

Airbus did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the crash.

The flight from the northeastern city of Lahore to Karachi typically takes an hour and a half to travel.

 The jet belonged to national carrier Pakistan International Airlines
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The jet belonged to national carrier Pakistan International AirlinesCredit: Twitter
 Debris from the plane is shown smouldering on the street following the crash in Model Colony, Pakistan
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Debris from the plane is shown smouldering on the street following the crash in Model Colony, Pakistan
 Dozens of locals watch on as the rescue operation continues
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Dozens of locals watch on as the rescue operation continues
 A burnt out car is pictured at the scene of the horrific crash near Karachi Airport
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A burnt out car is pictured at the scene of the horrific crash near Karachi Airport
 File picture showing a PIA Airbus A320 - the same model which crashed today
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File picture showing a PIA Airbus A320 - the same model which crashed today
 Unverified pictures show the aftermath of the jet crash near Karachi Airport
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Unverified pictures show the aftermath of the jet crash near Karachi Airport
 More than 100 people who were on board the plane are feared dead
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More than 100 people who were on board the plane are feared dead
 Locals watch as thick smoke billows from what appears to be the crash scene, in the unverified pics
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Locals watch as thick smoke billows from what appears to be the crash scene, in the unverified pics

 

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