Pakistan mourns dead after plane crash

(July 30, 2010) A Christian air hostess killed in Pakistan’s worst ever air disaster was laid to rest as the country observed a day of mourning on Thursday for all 152 crash victims. Bad weather has hampered search operations for bodies and the black box flight recorder of the Airbus A321 that slammed into a hillside outside Islamabad on Wednesday. Six members of a youth parliament, eight children, 22 women, including two Christian flight attendants were among the dead. Relatives of many of the victims are still waiting to claim the remains of their loved ones. Media reports say authorities have managed to identify at least 58 bodies so far and released them to their families. More than 500 people attended the funeral on Thursday of 26-year-old flight attendant Sapna Munawar, a member of the Full Gospel Assembly Church. Father William Rahat, together with 14 pastors, conducted the funeral service at the Full Gospel Assembly Church in Wah. Relatives and Church people in Karachi are also awaiting news of the remains of 27-year old Church of Pakistan Christian, Naheed Bhatti, the other flight attendant.