Pakistan

Airblue crash: PHC issues notices to airline, govt and CAA

Petitioners want all Airblue flights grounded until report is made public.

Manzoor Ali March 23, 2011

PESHAWAR:

A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued notices to Airblue airline, the federal government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explain their positions in a writ petition filed by family members of the victims of the fatal crash of an Airblue plane in Islamabad last year.

Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Marvi Memon and family members of the air crash victims prayed that the PHC ground all domestic and international flights of Airblue, in public interest, till the findings of an independent board of inquiry are made public and a definite declaration is made that the aircraft are safe to fly.

On Tuesday, the petitioners’ lawyer Omer Farouk Adam said that the petitioners first wanted interim relief in the case. However, the chief justice observed for interim relief, the hearing of all respondents was necessary before passing an order. The bench adjourned the hearing till April 19.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (4)

Haris Lodhi | 13 years ago | Reply Dear All, We will create history Inshallah. As investigation informed by one of my sources that Mr.Shahid Khakan don't want to face media and said that he don't want to lift this case again .Please tell him that this case is still alive and will be alive till conclusion in shape of crash report and investigation. Haris Lodhi Son of Shireen Lodhi ( Victim of Air Blue Crash )

Uza Syed | 13 years ago | Reply @Meekal Ahmed: Sure, agree, the entire fleet doesn't need to be grounded and it's, also, true that The Airbus has good performance record. However, irrespective of the machine / product itself, a regime of rigorous maintenance and quality control is the only measure that can ensure safety of passengers and this airline like any other must be forced to comply with international standards. The other issue that must be taken care of is whether or not Air Blue is guilty of forcing its fatigued pilots to operate commercial flights thus compromising, nay jeopardizing its passengers' lives for the sake of profits. Here the political connections and its implications must be taken under the loop and analyzed and disected for lapses due to the nexus between PML-Nawaz-Khaqan Abbasi-Civil Aviation Authority-Ministry of Defence. Who is trying to cover up and save whose what?

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Meekal Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply Grounding the entire fleet is not the answer. There is nothing wrong with the fleet. The Airbus series has a sterling record world-wide. A hearing is not needed either. Just publish the damn report with the full read-out of the CVR and DFDR as other countries do!

Uza Syed | 13 years ago | Reply It's a good sign ------- excellent public interest latigation ------ I am impressed by Ms. Marvi Memon's efforts and sense of duty here. It's about time that large corporations are held accountable for their negligence or contributory negligence and made to respect, acknowledge and pay for "Product Liability" in this case questionable quality of the plane as well as the overworked pilots . Let this case be a milestone in this regard, especially, because this airline, Air Blue, is not only a mega corporation but also because its owner Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has strong political connections which has helped him so far in buldozing the interests of the heirs of the crash victims.

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