Airbus A320 accident near Karachi, Pk, May 22, 2020
On May 22, 2020 at about 2:39 pm local time, a Airbus A320, registered APBLD, was destroyed in an accident during approach near Karachi (Karachi Jinnah airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 97 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2020 · about 2:39 pm local time
- Place
- Karachi, Pakistan · Karachi Jinnah
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 97 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320 214 · all A320s on the register
- Registration
- APBLD · no longer on the register · serial 2274
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
The government of Pakistan has notified the NTSB of an accident involving an AIRBUS A320 with CFM56 engines that occurred on May 22, 2020. The NTSB has appointed a U.S. Accredited Representative to assist the government of Pakistan's investigation under the provisions of ICAO Annex 13.All investigative information will be released by the government of Pakistan.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during approach defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Pakistan International Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: LHE Lahore
- Destination: KHI Karachi
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 6 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 89 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.