Plane crash near Islamabad

Reports suggest that none of the nearly 159 people on board have survived the plane crash in Islamabad. This is Pakistan's worst-ever plane crash. (AFP Photo)

The plane, a commercial Airbus belonging to Air Blue, a private airline, was flying from Islamabad via Karachi. Thick white smoke and flames can be seen rising from the crash site. The wreckage of the plane is scattered over a huge area, reported journalists who are covering the tragedy for Pakistani channels. They also spoke of stumbling across dead bodies, unrecognizable and badly-mutilated.(AFP Photo)

Pakistani rescue workers look for survivors at the site of the passenger plane crash in the mountains of Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

Police said bodies were strewn across the low mountains near the scene of the smouldering wreckage in inaccessible hills, shrouded in heavy cloud and fog during a downpour.(AFP Photo)

A Pakistani Army helicopter hovers as it looks for survivors of the passenger plane that crashed in the mountains of Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

Pakistani rescue helicopters fly over smoke and wreckage of the crashed passenger plane in the Margalla Hills on the outskirts of Islamabad. (AFP Photo)

Pakistan army soldiers rush to the site of plane crash in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

Pakistani rescue workers rush to the site of plane crash in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

Soldiers of Pakistan Armed Forces rush to the site of plane crash in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

Local residents look towards the site of plane crash in Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

A reporter for Pakistani TV channel Geo TV said that the pilot was trying to land at Islamabad on schedule at 9.30 am but was told to wait because the airport was busy. (Photo: @AirlineIndustry)

Pakistani rescue helicopters fly over smoke and wreckage of the crashed passenger plane in The Margalla Hills on the outskirts of Islamabad. (AP Photo)

A Pakistani Army helicopter hovers as it looks for survivors of the passenger plane crash in the mountains of Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

A helicopter files over the site of the plane crash near Islamabad, Pakistan. (AP Photo)

The crash site.(AFP Photo)

An emergency has been declared at all hospitals in Islamabad.

Civil aviation officials said the aircraft had disappeared from radar screens shortly before the crash was reported.

Private airliner Air Blue operated Airbus A-321, flying from Turkey to Islamabad via Karachi, hit the Margalla Hills near Daman-e-Koh viewpoint around 10 am in thick fog, police and a state-run rescue service officials said.

A rescue helicopter can be seen hovering above. Pakistani media reports that it's raining very heavily near Islamabad. Thick fog and the smoke rising from the plane is likely to impede rescue and relief operations.

A rescue helicopter can be seen hovering above. Pakistani media reports that it's raining very heavily near Islamabad. Thick fog and the smoke rising from the plane is likely to impede rescue and relief operations.

The plane, a commercial Airbus belonging to Air Blue, a private airline, was flying from Islamabad via Karachi. Thick white smoke and flames can be seen rising from the crash site.(Photo: NaumanFaridi)

It was raining heavily this morning in and around Islamabad and that impeded initial rescue operations. Army helicopters hovered above the crash site, reportedly carrying out surveillance. Rescue workers are trying to reach the area on foot, but there are no roads to this part of the forest. (Photo: @dj_bubble)

Civil aviation officials said the aircraft had disappeared from radar screens shortly before the crash was reported.

An emergency has been declared at all hospitals in Islamabad. (Photo: Stranger_to_u)

A rescue helicopter can be seen hovering above.

Medical team has been rushed to the crash site.

The Pakistani Prime Minister has ordered the Defence Ministry to launch an inquiry into the crash.

Rescue team on their way to the crash site.

Passengers waiting at the airport to get information about their family members and friends aboard the ill-fated Air Blue plane.

Fire fighters on their way to the crash site.

The inaccessibility of the site and bad weather were hampering the rescue operations.(Photo: dj_bubble)

Islamabad has been hit by heavy rains for the past few days and the city was covered by fog and low clouds.(Photo: dj_bubble)

With rescue efforts hit by bad weather and smoke and fire at the crash site, a spokesperson for the state-run Rescue 1122 service said helicopters had been sought from the military.(Photo: dj_bubble)

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed shock and grief at the crash and directed authorities to take coordinated measures to reach the inaccessible site.(Photo: dj_bubble)