KARACHI, Pakistan — At least two passengers had a miraculous escape after their ill-fated Pakistan International Airlines plane carrying nearly 100 people crashed into a residential neighborhood in the southern city of Karachi on Friday.

One of the survivors has been identified as Zafar Masood. He is the president of the Bank of Punjab.

More than 60 bodies have been recovered, according to officials from the provincial government.

It is, however, unclear if the deceased were all onboard the flight or include area residents as well where the crash took place.

A PIA spokesperson said that the A320 Airbus was carrying 91 passengers and 8 crew members from Lahore to Karachi on PK 8303. Eyewitnesses said the Airbus A320 appeared to attempt to land two or three times before crashing.

“The airplane first hit a mobile tower and crashed over houses,” witness Shakeel Ahmed said near the site, just a few kilometers short of the airport, according to Reuters.

Faisal Edhi, who heads the charitable Edhi Foundation that was assisting rescuers said 42 bodies had been recovered from the area, AFP reported.

"As per our estimates there are around 50 more dead bodies under the debris," Edhi said in a live television broadcast.

The disaster comes as Pakistanis across the country are preparing to celebrate the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid Al-Fitr, with many traveling back to their homes in cities and villages.

Footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the site of the crash within the congested residential area. Ambulances and rescue officials arrived at the scene to help residents.