mordant wit

A Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed shortly after takeoff Monday in the eastern city of Multan, leaving all 45 persons aboard dead, officials said.

The Fokker airliner crashed into mango groves near Multan, the largest city in southern part of Punjab province, minutes after take off, initial reports in Pakistani media said.

Pakistani officials said it was too early to ascertain the cause of the crash but discounted the possibility of sabotage.

Witnesses reported the plane plummeting down with a fire on its left side.

"The plane lost contact with the control tower about two minutes after take-off. We don't know what happened to it," Mansoor Rahi, an engineer with the airline, told The Associated Press.

The plan was traveling to Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, and had 41 passengers and 4 crew members on board. The dead included two high court judges, two brigadier-generals of the Pakistan Army and a university vice chancellor.


Full news item here.