Crash landing case: Date fixed for framing charges against pilot

On Nov 3, a flight carrying 121 passengers and crew had made a crash-landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport

LAHORE:

An anti-terrorism court on Saturday fixed January 7 for framing charges against a private airline pilot for allegedly crash-landing a plane under the influence of alcohol.

On November 3, a flight carrying 121 passengers and crew had made a crash-landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport. The tyres of aircraft burst and it skidded off the runway. More than 10 passengers were injured.

After the incident, the Civil Aviation Authority registered a case against Asmat Mehmood, the pilot of the aircraft, with Sarwar Road police. Police arrested Mehmood and later presented his challan.

According to the challan, Mehmood was under the influence of alcohol during the flight. “After the investigation, it came to light that the pilot had started the landing sequence ignoring directions from the air traffic controller. The controller had directed him to start the landing procedure at a height of 3,000 feet, but he did that at 5,000 feet. This caused the crash-landing,” the document stated.

“The medical report of the pilot revealed that the alcohol level in his blood was 83mg per deciliter at the time of crash-landing. It is much higher than the permissible rate of 40mg per deciliter. The pilot was also found in possession of liquor,” it said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.