Mangalore air crash: Pak PM sends condolences

Islamabad, May 22 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday sent his condolences to his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh for the deaths of 158 people in an Air India Express plane crash earlier in the day.

"I was deeply shocked to learn of the tragic crash of an Air India Express aircraft this morning in Karnataka, resulting in the loss of many precious lives," the Dawn quoted Gilani, as saying in his message to Dr. Singh.

"On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan and on my own behalf, I would like to convey our deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families," Gilani added.

The Air India Boeing 737-800 overshot a runway and crashed in flames near Mangalore. There were only eight survivors from the flight that came in from Dubai.

This is the first major plane crash in India since 2000. (ANI)