An AirBlue flight, PA 703, carrying the bodies of five foreign climbers who perished in a Broad Peak avalanche, landed at Islamabad Airport on Friday. The remains were carefully offloaded under the supervision of Muhammad Rasheed, Deputy Chief Airport Security Officer of the Airport Security Force (ASF), who managed all arrangements at the airport.
The flight had departed from Skardu after the necessary preparations were completed to transfer the bodies from the mountainous region to the capital. Authorities had also finalized all protocols at Islamabad Airport to ensure a smooth reception of the remains.
Last week, an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Shigar district, leaving ten international mountaineers missing. Earlier reports confirmed that the bodies of seven foreign climbers were being moved from Skardu to Islamabad, with five now having arrived.
The avalanche occurred as the climbers were ascending from Camp II to Camp III. The expedition was led by Nepali mountaineer Nims Dai and included participants from Pakistan, Nepal, Oman, the United States, China, and other countries. Among the team was Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi.
In response to the disaster, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched despite challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions. Efforts involved Pakistan Army helicopters, high-altitude porters, volunteers, and seasoned mountaineers. Additionally, Rescue 1122, police, and health department teams were placed on high alert to support the ongoing mission.
