One has to wonder how the CAA would have even allowed something like this.
PESHAWAR: This is with reference to a letter by Khalid Idrees titled “Seats on a plane” (January 26). Quite clearly, what Mr Idrees has spoken of is a serious safety violation and one has to wonder how the CAA would have even allowed something like this. Flights by our state-owned carrier to Europe some years back were put on hold for much smaller violations of the safety code.
All those responsible for overlooking this gross violation and giving this aircraft and the airline permission for flying have no business to be involved with aviation. As it is, our airports have among the highest rates of birds hitting planes, because the CAA has failed to assert its authority to prevent the mushrooming of residential societies, marriage halls in the ‘sterile zone’ surrounding major airports in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Multan. If there was an emergency evacuation on such a plane, with the emergency exit blocked by seats, it could lead to loss of life.
Gul Zaman
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2012.
