What happened
On May 22, 2020, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Flight PK8303, an Airbus A320-214 with registration AP-BLD, departed Lahore for Karachi carrying 91 passengers and nine crew members. During the approach to Jinnah International Airport (JIAP), the aircraft attempted to land on runway 25L without extending its landing gear. The engines scraped against the runway surface, causing significant damage. The flight crew initiated a go-around and declared an emergency, stating that both engines had failed. Approximately four minutes later, while on the downwind leg at an altitude of roughly 2,000 feet, the aircraft lost all power. It crashed into a residential area approximately 1,340 meters short of the runway threshold. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire. Of the 99 people on board, 97 were killed and two passengers survived. Four people on the ground were injured, one of whom later died.
The investigation
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) Pakistan led the inquiry, supported by accredited representatives from France's BEA and the USA's NTSB. Investigators analyzed wreckage distribution, CCTV footage, and data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Wreckage mapping indicated a low-speed impact with buildings on both sides of a street. Analysis of the THS position showed it was set to 2.8 degrees nose-up at impact. FDR data revealed that during the final moments before the first landing, the aircraft was descending rapidly with the landing gear retracted and flaps fully retracted, despite multiple warnings. The crew disregarded over-speed, landing gear not down, and ground proximity alerts. Air Traffic Control observed the engine scrubbing but failed to relay this critical information to the aircraft.
Findings
The investigation established that the aircraft touched down on its engines due to the landing gear being retracted. Following the initial touchdown, the crew attempted a go-around; however, data indicated a brief extension of the gear lever followed immediately by retraction. During the climb-out, both engines failed sequentially. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed to power essential systems, but the aircraft could not maintain altitude. Wreckage analysis confirmed the right engine had failed due to specific mechanical reasons, while the left engine's failure required further examination. The configuration at impact—slats at position 1 and flaps retracted—was inconsistent with a stabilized approach. The report noted that the crew disregarded critical warnings throughout the final phase of the first approach.