Pakistan starts investigation Bhoja airline’s crash

Over the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, authorities launched a probe after a Bhoja Airline plane crashed while attempting to land during a thunderstorm, with all 127 people on board killed.

Unfortunately, the Bhoja Airline jet Karachi-Islamabad bound burst into flames after coming down in fields near a village on the outskirts of Islamabad on Friday. The flight was carrying 127 including nine crew members on board.

Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi informed the media that a probe has been ordered into the crash. He observed, “A team of investigators comprising senior civil aviation officials have immediately started investigations”.

A probe committee headed by Group Captain Mujahid-ul-Islam has been constituted to investigate the airplane crash.

In the meanwhile, US plane-assembling company Boeing has offered cooperation for investigation in air crash incident. Boeing Company in consultation with US National Transportation Safety Board is ready to provide technical cooperation, the statement added.

Besides offering sympathies with bereaved families, the company spokesman said that international law would be kept in view while rendering services to Pakistan government in this regard.

According to the experts, the aircraft used by the airline was extremely old but it was considered airworthy by the authorities concerned.

Former Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) president Naqi Rehman was of the opinion that the investigations without any doubts carried out into the incident would eventually blame the deceased pilot for the incident.

He commented, “Blaming the pilot is the most convenient way out for everybody, since it leaves the Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Defence, and the aircraft manufacturers off the hook”.

An aviation law expert Shah Murad said a total of 1,193 people have lost their lives in 32 aircraft accidents, including Friday’s Bhoja Air crash, since 1947.

He noted, “This raises a big question mark on the performance of the Civil Aviation Authority and the quality of air worthiness and maintenance of aircraft. Undoubtedly, the CAA has compromised on the aviation safety standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization”.

In Pakistan, the CAA regulates all aspects of commercial aviation activities. Under section 5 (2) of the CAA Ordinance, 1982 the CAA is responsible to ensure and promote safe, efficient, adequate, economical and properly coordinated civil air transport services.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Apr 21 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.