ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat expressed its deep sorrow over the loss of 97 people due to crash of the PIA A-320 aircraft in Karachi, and observed that despite reported unquestionable airworthiness and experience of the pilots, the incident took place; therefore, its reasons should be identified to avoid reoccurrence of such incidents.
The committee met with Kishwer Zehra in the chair at the Parliament Lodges, on Tuesday.
The members of the committee stressed for a thorough investigation into the crash of PIA A-320 aircraft to ascertain the cause behind that fatal incident.
The committee was apprised that an investigation team comprising 12 members including aviation experts, representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority, the PIA, the Aviation Psychologist and Boeing Company conducted on ground examination of the debris of the aircraft, referred to the conversation of pilots with the control tower and the recordings in the black box during the course of investigation.
It was told the committee that the preliminary investigation revealed that airworthiness of the aircraft was unquestionable, weather system was favourable, pilot and co-pilot were experienced, however, there were quite a few deviations by the pilot and the air traffic controller from the prescribed procedures.
The secretary, Aviation Division informed that the inquiry into the tragic incident would be completed within eight to 10 months, and the report would be presented to the committee.
The committee, while taking up the issue of closure of flights to the UK, directed to pursue the re-initiation of flights to Europe with the European and British Airspace authorities.
The Committee was apprised that the PIA flights to its European destinations and the UK were discontinued on five different issues related to safety management of the aircraft and air passengers.
The representative of the PIA informed that the objections have been addressed; however, the flights would be reinitiated on clearance by the European Airspace Agency.
He further informed that keeping in view the problems faced by the Pakistani diaspora and other foreign nationals, intending to travel to Pakistan by the PIA, alternate arrangements had been made on code sharing basis.
He said that code sharing agreements had been made with Etihad Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines till flights were allowed.
The committee was apprised about the fake license of the PIA pilots or pilots carrying licenses issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The committee observed that the case brought disgrace to the country besides putting a big question mark on the veracity of all the licenses issued by the CAA.
The members observed that none in the CAA had been held responsible so far who compromised the licenses issuance procedure.
The committee asked the Aviation Division to complete the inquiry, so that the persons responsible could be identified and taken to task.
About the fake licenses case, the committee was informed that the Board of Inquiry to investigate the extent to violation/malpractices observed in conduct/issuance of flight crew licenses was constituted and in light of the finding of the board, 28 licenses were cancelled, verification of data was carried out of 38 licensees whereas, 193 licenses were suspended for further inquiry apart from referring the case to the FIA for inquiry.
The secretary aviation informed that the Civil Aviation had verified/cleared 200 Pakistani licenses whose names were received from Civil Aviation Authorities of the Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Ethiopia, the UAE, Vietnam, Bahrain, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020