FIA to take action against pilots with fake licenses

Easa restriction on PIA can only be lifted after audit, govt tells IHC

ISLAMABAD:

The government has ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to start criminal proceedings against the 50 commercial pilots whose licenses were suspended after an inquiry into a plane crash in Karachi and whose licenses could not be verified.

In a written statement, the federal government told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that 172 of the 262 pilots – whose licenses were declared dubious during an investigation into May 22 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash – have been cleared after their verification.

It said licenses of 50 of the pilots have, however, been cancelled as these licenses could not be verified. The federal cabinet has also approved the summary for cancellation of these licenses.

The government told the IHC that the matter of fake licenses has now been referred to the FIA which will soon start criminal proceedings against these 50 pilots. It said none of the pilots holding a fake license will be given any relief under Article 199.

On May 22, a PIA plane crashed in a densely populated residential area of Karachi a few kilometers from the runway while on a second approach after a failed landing. Of the 91 passengers and 8 crewmembers, 97 were killed.

Sharing details of the investigation, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar on June 26 announced that 262 pilots had been barred from flying because of their “dubious” credentials.

The pilots in the line of fire included 141 from the PIA, 10 from Serene Airline and nine from Air Blue. The rest belonged to flying clubs or chartered plane services.

International publications carried the revelation prominently and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) suspended authorization for the PIA to operate in Europe for six months on June 30.

The US department of transportation followed suit and on July 9 it suspended the PIA’s special permit, citing concerns over the flag carrier's safety measures and pilots' "suspicious licenses".         

The statement told the IHC that the restriction imposed by Easa could only be lifted after an onsite or remote audit of the national flag carrier. It said this audit is scheduled to be held in January 2021.