KARACHI: A London-bound PIA flight PK-787, with 168 passengers and crew on board, landed safely at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi after one of its two engines reportedly caught fire.
Airbus-310 took off from Karachi airport at 11:25am but it came back for landing when its pilot informed control tower of serious problems in one of its engines.
The aircraft landed at 12:20, after a long 55-minutes flight, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson told The Express Tribune.
"The aircraft developed technical fault during the flight," he added, "This is not unusual as it happens in every part of the world."
PIA spokesperson said that the engine did not catch fire and information in media is not true.
Soon after the incident, the airline announced that it will shift PK-787 passengers to another aircraft.
PIA was shifting passengers to another aircraft which will take them to London, but the flight did not take off until the filing of this story at 2:30pm.
The spokesperson of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that the landing of the aircraft was normal and no passenger was hurt during it.
“The pilot of the aircraft took the right decision to come back to Karachi because it was a long flight of seven to eight hours,” the CAA spokesperson added.
“We deployed all our emergency vehicles and equipment for the landing aircraft but at the end the pilot did land it safely without any difficulty,” he said.
Aviation experts say that a modern aircraft, even if one of its engines stop working, can land safely and that is what seemed to happen with Airbus-310 on Sunday.
Correction: An earlier version of this story mentioned the incorrect flight number. The error has been fixed.
COMMENTS (43)
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@MK As I said earlier in my first post we can not defend PIA and it really need improvements in all of its operational areas(plus off course CAA (both are in same boat)). I hope you red following news.
"KARACHI: The engine of an Islamabad-bound Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, with Members National Assembly, federal ministers, and Chief Justice of Pakistan on board caught fire during take off here on Sunday, Geo News reported.
The flight, PK-308 was on the taxiway when the fire broke out in one of its engines, sources said.
Declaring emergency, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) cancelled the flight."
http://www.lhrtimes.com/2012/12/02/pia-flight-pk-308-catches-fire/
Also there were minimum 2 more such events in last 2 weeks. I hope it is enough eye opener for us and we should not risk more lives.
@Sarmad: I prefer not to reply you.
@Haroon Rashid: Sorry to inform you that this was an AIRBUS aircraft.
Boeing has nothing to do with the aircraft.
Quote: "Why frequency of air crash and emergency landing is so high in Pakistan"
I don't believe it is high. Even if you talk about maintenance of the aircraft, this was a Boeing 777 aircraft, newly purchased directly from the Boeing company. So in that case the maintenance on the older aircraft is good enough to be compared to this newer ones.
Quote: " I consider myself unfortunate as because of their unprofessional approach I had to deal with this tragic event"
I believe you don't know the meaning of tragic. Secondly, are you a certified pilot or a safety officer that you can declare it as an unprofessional approach. Can you even name a single instrument on that aircraft? What is used for fire-fighting if engine catches fire?
Quote: "Though Being a Muslim I believe life and death is in ALLAH’s hand and I do believe that machines are very unpredictable"
Then don't take the risk next time.
Quote: "It is very arrogant to suggest book ticket with some other airline instead identifying the issue and improving the service"
Can you identify the issue straight away? They did and they solved it. If they hadn't, my friend I believe you wouldn't have been so fortunate or as according to you so unfortunate.
Quote: " I am sure you must have experienced the difference when you arrive/depart at any of the Pakistani Airport and any other airport of the civilized world"
First try to decide if you are going to blame PIA or the CAA. You are confused about your own statements that whether you are talking about the airline or the airport authority.
Last thing: you can also praise that the pilot was very well trained that he actually got hold of the situation and unlike panicking people he didn't run away.
@ kash
How unfortunate that you are still alive! hahaha
@kash
I am getting your point. Emirates is known for its excellent condition of planes and zero accident history and this was a new plane. Recently Emirates flight from Sydney returned after an Engine failure. In the last two days they had two engine failures. They have an excellent airport and they have excellent maintenance of aircraft, so would could have been the reason in their case? oh by the way it was a Boeing 777, the same planed that is being used by PIA as well that too recently bought. You see it might be arrogant to suggest but at the same time you are being stubborn by not realizing that it can happen anywhere in the world. Saying that passengers told the crew what was happening with the engine is acting too naive. The investigation report of none of the previous air crashes were made public for the people to see what really had happened. So its always the airline being blamed always. I am sure a pilot would never take off a plane after following the proper check procedure. I have not only traveled in commercial planes but also in military planes and the condition of the aircraft around the world is the same. You just can't put the blame on the airline and pilot. Somethings just happen. A bird hit can do something to the engine too. In that case who would the blame be put on ? I am just saying we need to think from our mind rather than being too emotional. Keeping in view that you were in the plane, you have the right to panic but you must also be thankful to the pilot whereas you said he would get an award whereas you are totally against it. considering it the crew's fault which is unfair.
@MK I understand what you are trying to convey but I am afraid you are not getting my point. You are talking about skills after accident and I am talking about safety measures taken all over the world before take-off. Why frequency of air crash and emergency landing is so high in Pakistan. I consider myself unfortunate as because of their unprofessional approach I had to deal with this tragic event. Is not it responsibility of PIA to make sure that their plane is in perfect condition? I am frequent flyer and I know how other airlines handle such situations and how it could be handled in a better way. Though Being a Muslim I believe life and death is in ALLAH’s hand and I do believe that machines are very unpredictable, but if we follow world agreed standard we can minimise these risk. It is very arrogant to suggest book ticket with some other airline instead identifying the issue and improving the service. I am sure you must have travelled a lot and I am sure you must have experienced the difference when you arrive/depart at any of the Pakistani Airport and any other airport of the civilised world. Mr. MK I am afraid PIA’s situation is not that good that anyone can defend it.
Regards,
@Haroon Rashid:
This was not a boeing aircraft
@Kash
It is indeed a happy situation that everyone is safe but at the same time you need to realize that things don't just happen the way you see them. You are stating that passengers told the crew that engine had caught fire otherwise they would have been going to London just like that. I am sure you do not realize that equipment in the cockpit are very good at indicating the moment there is something wrong with the plane. I am guessing you have never traveled on a jump seat before. PIA staff had chosen not to inform the passengers to save them from panicking which eventually happened. You should be thanking the PILOT as well had he not used his senses, you would not have been alive. Next time book a flight with some other airline. such incidents happen everywhere and it is the control that is seen not the smartness that the passengers show. There are no side mirrors in a plane, neither can a pilot take out his head from the window to see how the engine is doing. Flying a plane is definitely not like driving a car. You just cant put it in reverse gear and park it back the moment you see a problem. no matter what the situation is following the SOP an aircraft has turn and get back and it takes time. whether you liked it or not you should know that pilot used very good judgement. he saved you and in this case you are fortunate, unfortunate are those who are not left to come and comment. A plane can fly on one engine and even if pilot had turned it off(which i am sure he did) it takes time to inform and get back to the runway as the engine fire wasn't planned. Please realize that this blame-game needs to stop. You are safe and you should be thankful that pilot was in his senses to land you back safely in such a situation.
Yesterday I was unfortunate passenger of PK 787 from Karachi to London and I was sitting on the window seat next to the wing where fire broke out. Just wanted to share what I experienced, Fire brook out in left wing of the plane just after 2/3 minutes of take-off with 2 small bangs from plans engine and plane start going down as well, Also I can tell that this was HUGE fire (with air pressure it was going 3/4 feet behind the wings) not only smoke or fire smell.( I don’t know if that engine was switched off or not but only smoke was raising afterward) All passengers sitting next to left window start panicking but PIA’s staff did not noticed it and kept moving for another 20 minutes. Later passengers told the crew about fire and smoke and they decided to go back to Karachi. I don’t think that PIA staff did anything extra in this situation, infect they are totally responsible for risking life of so many people. They should be jailed for not taking care required safety measures before flying and to avoid such situations during flight, even during flight when engine caught fire in 2/3 mins of take off why it took 20 minutes for PIA crew to identify the problem? Also I wonder why these all things happen to PIA only and so frequent. Sadly this pilot will be given an award now. I Thanks ALLAH Almighty for sparing our lives else PIA is not in a situation to continue its operation. Regards
Renaming PIA will be a better option. PIA=Perhaps I'll Arrive OR Paindoos In Authority. Salams
Thanks god all the passenger were save for the wisenes and the experence of the piolte they save the many lifes. Piote You May Live Long.
Noted and corrected the news reported was Airbus A310, from Airbus Industrie/EADS
@Shayan: My above comment is not on that particular incidence, which can occur with best of the airline, but on the overall state of affairs of PIA which was once, one the best airlines in the world.
PIA's fate = Technical faults
Well done Captain Saeed.
You saved precious human lives.
Thanks God that flight PK-787 was not far away from Karachi.
It is a non stop flight of 8+ hours from Karachi to London.
Captain Saeed needs a pat on his back by the Government and PIA.
@Adi: Obviously You cant be proud of Pakistan coz you belong to our beloved Neighborhood.....
with 20 aircrafts 48 general managers this is not un usual,all funds eaten by these political appointees,too less aval to buy spares
@Haroon Rashid: At least get your facts right. Why should Boeing get involved. The Airbus A-310 as the name suggest is an Airbus aircraft & not Boeing.
"This is not unusual . . . ! " as if they are dealing with morons!
@Adi And I am waiting to see an educated set of commentators. All those that blame PIA dont know jack about the airline industry. As Acorn Guts mentioned its a very common occurence. Move along people !
Please make following corrections. Flight was London bound PK-787 and not 747. It was an Airbus A-310 aircraft and not a Boeing 777 and guys from Boeing got nothing to do with it. Flight lasted less than 20 min as pilot immediately took the decision to return, not 55 minutes.
They don't specify 'technical fault'. Aircraft registration # can tell if this is one of the six A310s PK leased from Airbus & recently purchased or, if it's one of six originally owned by PK. Both have different engines - Leased six via Airbus have PW engines and the original ones have GE engines.
The criticism above is ridiculous! The captain of a plane is king, whatever he decides is the final decision. Planes have problems, passenger safety is paramount and they turn back. Last week an Emirates A380 turned back after taking off from Adelaide due to engine trouble and smoke in the cabin, was it corruption? PPP? State control to blame? The passengers are safe and that is the important thing!
@UC: The aircraft involved is an Airbus A310, the 777 above is just a filler.
Since last 14 years, i am waiting for a single day when i will be proud of being a Pakistani !!! Just a day......Is that too much to ask for ????
probably an engine stall and surge which is quite common!
PPP! don,t sell mainatainence spare parts at least when election is near,you will be doomed
Move along people nothing to see here. Engine failures are very common and given how old these A310's are, I think it's rather commendable how rare these failures are. Emirates (that we like to quote so much) had 4 engine failures in 7 days last week, one of them was on A380.
@indian: Not the Russian Sukhoi superjets at least. The silly things can't stop hitting Indonesian mountains.
@auhor: Please use the correct photo, in your article you mention the affected aircraft is an Airbus a310, whereas the picture you have used is of a Boeing 777. :)
@Haroon Rashid: Why would you want to send a report to Boeing? The aircraft is an Airbus!
@ET: Correct flight number is PK787 (not 747).
@ET: Correct flight number is PK787 (not 747)!
UC: Its a Airbus A310. However, it is sad that PIA is soo negligent with its old machinery.
@ Mr. Indian. Which Chinese Technology are you talking about! This is a Boeing 777! An Engine Catching Fire is abnormal but the plane can still fly safely on one engine, though obviously not all the way to London.
PIA needs financial help they are broke.I would not fly any Pakistani airline.
the chinese technology also got caught in fire..............now what will pakistan do??
What a state of affairs PIA is in. And this is the airline which started up Emirates. A shame. Our corrupt leaders have destroyed PIA. Might as well privatize this white elephant now.
The ICAO safety standards followed by CAA and the respective airlines at the CAA Pakistan using the airspace of Pakistan with its passenger safety. The CAA Pakistan should release the report on safety, and the fault as stated in the news for engine fire when airborne, is extremely important. This engine incident report should be sent to Boeing for safety of the aircraft in which the passengers were travelling are equal responsibility of PIA, CAA Pakistan, and Boeing Corporation., being the largest Civil aircraft manufacturers in the world. Appreciate if Boeing, CAA Pakistan, and PIA makes the safety, and incident report in the media, and the international media to avoid any aprehension.
"second engine"?
probably means No. 2.
Hoping and praying that these so called aircraft/death traps are barred entry into the EU and the rest of the civilized world till they mend their ways. Message to Pakistani citizens: Please value your life, say no to PIA. Godspeed
better than PIA is chingchi rikshaw... only flaw is it cudnt fly .. :P !!
HEC insists that researchers goes on PIA for international conferences :(
Thats the reason why PIA was banned in europe a while ago.
If you cant run it then privatize guys.
Thank God that the passengers and the plane landed back safely, but it is no surprise that one of the engines caught fire in take off. The way things are going on in the era of this democratic govt can be summed up as total corruption and chaos. No one expects any better.
PPP you rock.you are droning on every thing except corruption.