All 48 people aboard killed after plane crashes in northern Pakistan

Saigol said the plane's black box had been found and will be sent to its manufacturing company in France for decoding.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), media wing of the Pakistani army said that two helicopters, 500 soldiers and doctors took part in the rescue operation.

All the bodies were being shifted to Ayub medical complex Abbottabad. Doctor Manan, deputy medical superintendent at the hospital, said all of them were burnt beyond recognition as the plane caught fire after the crash.

He said the bodies will be identified by biometric verification carried out by National Database Registration Authority. A mobile team from the agency already reached the hospital via helicopters provided by the Interior Ministry.

After the identification process, the bodies will be airlifted to hospitals in Islamabad and will be handed over to the relatives.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the incident and directed the National Disaster Management Authority to mobilize all the resources to facilitate the relatives of the crash victims.

The authority has formed an emergency desk at the Abbottabad hospital to provide information about the victims.