Islamabad: Forty people onboard a Pakistan International Airlines' flight from Peshawar had a miraculous escape today (June 16, 2004) when the Fokker plane skidded off the runway and came to a halt at a nearby field in the Northern border city of Chitral.

The aircraft was slightly damaged as its petrol tank and tyres dropped in the field, where it stopped after skidding off the runway at the Chitral airport, causing scare among 36 passengers and four crew-members.

All passengers and the crew were safe, reports reaching here said.

Witnesses were quoted as saying that the panic-stricken passengers started crying and several fell unconscious while many passengers tried to break the doors and come out.

Passengers told media later that the pilot, Captain Irfan Faiz, managed to retain control of the plane averting a disaster.

Civil Aviation officials said the plane developed some technical snag, but the authorities were still investigating.