Renowned singer-songwriter Junaid Jamshed is among those feared dead after Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-661 came down in the Abbottabad district, reports Mirror Online.
The Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed in a village near the town of Havelian, about 75 kilometres (45 miles) north west of the capital Islamabad, senior police officer Khurram Rasheed said.
There were no immediate details on casualties but Pakistan’s interior ministry dispatched a team with experts on identifying bodies through DNA tests.
Jamshed, 52, who was believed to be on board with his family, was a recording artist previously awarded a Medal of Excellence by the President of Pakistan.
Pakistani TV channels reported that the jet lost contact with ground control and was missing shortly after taking off from the northern city of Chitral on Wednesday.
Geo News, citing civil aviation sources, said the plane lost contact with civil aviation authority at around 4.30pm (11.30 GMT).
The plane is thought to be carrying 37 passengers plus crew.
Airline spokesman Danyal Gilani confirmed the plane had “disappeared.”
