Airblue disaster: PHC cites ‘pilot error’ for Margalla Hills air crash
Court concurs pilot was old and not alert; ATC facilities also to be blamed.
Court concurs pilot was old and not alert; ATC facilities also to be blamed. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR:
The Peshawar High Court in its verdict on Thursday indicated that the Airblue incident that killed 152 on board was due to a pilot error given that the pilot, Parvez Iqbal, was aged and not mentally alert. The air traffic control tower was also adjudged incompetent in providing standard landing facilities.
The two-member bench that heard the petition passed the verdict that the pilot was unable to assess bad weather and the incident occurred because he could not deal with the situation properly.
President, Security Investigation Board of Civil Aviation Authority Air, Commodore Abdul Basit informed the court that no explosive powder was found from the scene and there was no fire in the engine.
The bench then inquired of the air commodore as to why the 62 years age limit for a pilot was breached, allowing a 65-year-old pilot to fly the plane. The reply was that Parvez Iqbal was an experienced pilot and his services were required.
The bench concurred that nepotism was rampant in these institutions and, unless such practices were removed, similar incidents will emerge in the future.
The bench also highlighted that while the co-pilot continuously prompted the pilot of an altitude warning flashing in the instrument panel, no appropriate measure was taken.
The bench directed the CAA to follow recommendations made by foreign experts for all airlines in order to avoid such incidents in the future. The court disposed of the petition.
On the court’s orders authorities concerned had paid compensation money of Rs5 million each, to the legal heirs of the victims whereas four percent of the heirs refused compensation.
The Airblue Flight ED202, which had taken off from Karachi on July 28, 2010 crashed into Islamabad’s Margalla hills, killing all people on board.
On March 28 this year, the CAA presented a report in the PHC which indicated that the incompetence of the staff at the Air Control Towers and non-availability of Radar Monitoring Terminal as reasons for the crash.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2013.
The Peshawar High Court in its verdict on Thursday indicated that the Airblue incident that killed 152 on board was due to a pilot error given that the pilot, Parvez Iqbal, was aged and not mentally alert. The air traffic control tower was also adjudged incompetent in providing standard landing facilities.
The two-member bench that heard the petition passed the verdict that the pilot was unable to assess bad weather and the incident occurred because he could not deal with the situation properly.
President, Security Investigation Board of Civil Aviation Authority Air, Commodore Abdul Basit informed the court that no explosive powder was found from the scene and there was no fire in the engine.
The bench then inquired of the air commodore as to why the 62 years age limit for a pilot was breached, allowing a 65-year-old pilot to fly the plane. The reply was that Parvez Iqbal was an experienced pilot and his services were required.
The bench concurred that nepotism was rampant in these institutions and, unless such practices were removed, similar incidents will emerge in the future.
The bench also highlighted that while the co-pilot continuously prompted the pilot of an altitude warning flashing in the instrument panel, no appropriate measure was taken.
The bench directed the CAA to follow recommendations made by foreign experts for all airlines in order to avoid such incidents in the future. The court disposed of the petition.
On the court’s orders authorities concerned had paid compensation money of Rs5 million each, to the legal heirs of the victims whereas four percent of the heirs refused compensation.
The Airblue Flight ED202, which had taken off from Karachi on July 28, 2010 crashed into Islamabad’s Margalla hills, killing all people on board.
On March 28 this year, the CAA presented a report in the PHC which indicated that the incompetence of the staff at the Air Control Towers and non-availability of Radar Monitoring Terminal as reasons for the crash.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2013.