ISLAMABAD, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- A passenger plane of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with 47 people onboard crashed in the country's northwest Havelian area on Wednesday, officials said.

Danial Gilani, spokesperson of PIA said that the twin-engine ATR plane carrying 40 passengers and seven crew members crashed while on the way to Rawalpindi city from northwest Chitral district when it crashed.

He said the plane took off at 3:38 p.m. local time (1038 GMT) and lost contact with control tower at 4:20 p.m. (1120 GMT).

Khursheed Tanoli, deputy superintendent police at Havelian said the plane crashed in remote hilly area, miles away from the residential areas, and caught fire following the accident.

More details about the incident are being collected by the country's civil aviation authority.