PIA pilot suspended for sleeping during international flight

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilot has come under fire for sleeping during an international flight and handing over the plane to a trainee pilot while he slept.

According to reports, a senior PIA pilot by the name of Captain Amir Hashmi was found sleeping in the business class compartment of the PK-785 flight which took off from Islamabad for London, a few days back. Hashmi reportedly took a two-and-a-half hour nap while an under-trainee pilot handled the aircraft in his absence.

A picture of the senior pilot sleeping on a business class seat is making rounds on social media and it has sparked a huge public outcry. Initially, PIA was reluctant to take any steps against the influential captain, but the issue was taken up by higher authorities in the Aviation Division, due to which PIA had to spring into action. The reason why Hashmi yields influence in PIA is because he was once a president of the Pakistan Air Lines Pilots Association.

After the Aviation Division demanded action from PIA, the airline company issued orders to suspend Hashmi and conduct a probe into the matter.

According to some sources privy to the case, On April 26, PK-785, carrying 300 passengers took from Islamabad for London and Captain Hashmi was in charge of the plane. However, shortly after taking off, Hashmi handed over the controls to under-training officer Ali Hassan Yazdani and went for catching up on his sleep. Any slight error could have resulted in disastrous circumstances and would have endangered the lives of so many passengers.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=54854

Posted by fatimaarshad on May 8 2017. Filed under Latest News, 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.