Monday, July 10 2006 16:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: A Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed minutes after taking off from an airport in the city of Multan today (July 10, 2006), killing all 45 on board, including two senior army officers.

The Fokker plane's engine developed a snag and it hit power cables before bursting into flames in an empty field. The plane was going to Lahore when the mishap took place.

There were no survivors and all 41 passengers and four crew members were killed, an airport official from Multan airport told Geo TV.

The dead included two judges of Lahore High Court, two brigadiers of Pakistan Army and a University Vice Chancellor.

Most of the bodies were charred. One body was retrieved from the smouldering plane by the rescue teams.