Qassemi on Thursday offered condolences to the Pakistani government and nation, and expressed deep sympathy with the families of the victims.
The small twin-propeller aircraft belonging to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) crashed near Havelian, the hilly area near Abbottabad district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
According to Daniyal Gilani, the PIA spokesman, the aircraft had lost contact with the control tower prior to the crash.
He said 42 passengers, five crew members and a ground engineer were on board.
