ISLAMABAD - A passenger plane carrying 127 passengers and crew members crashed near the capital Islamabad Friday evening, local media quoted the aviation authorities as saying.

The Pakistan Defence Ministry confirmed that 118 people were killed in the crash.

Reports said that the plane came down at Lohi Bher area, a few kilometers away from Islamabad.

The private Boeing-737 crashed on houses, causing fire.

The plane belonged to the Bhoja airlines, reports said.

The plane was coming from the port city of Karachi to Islamabad.