Margalla plane crash affectees yearn for effective SOPs

KARACHI:

Even after 14 years, the recommendations forwarded in the aftermath of the tragic Margalla Hills plane crash are yet to be implemented.

An Air Blue flight, on its way to Islamabad from Karachi, crashed into the Margalla Hills on July 28, 2010. All 152 passengers, including seven crew members, were killed in the incident.

Air Blue Affectees Association President Junaid Hamid claimed that the recommendations given by the team members were not implemented. He said if international laws were neglected, there was still a danger that history could repeat itself.

He said the country had seen six plane crashes since 2010, causing 450 deaths. "Whatever efforts have been made can be credited to the civil society," said Hamid. He added that the Civil Aviation Authority, aviation ministry and even the government have made little to no effort in this regard.

They are the silent spectators. That was why the victim association was registered in Spain, he said. He said it was imperative on the part of the Civil Aviation Authority to improve SOPs to avoid such incidents.

The government had blamed the pilot for the Air Blue tragedy. However, the affected families doubt the government's claim as the pilot had an experience of 25,000 flight hours, spanning 35 years.