The right engine of the plane caught fire mid-flight soon after take-off. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The plane, an Airbus A-310, was carrying 54 passengers and eight crew members and had departed for Dubai at 10:10pm from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. But just 15 minutes later, the pilot informed the control tower about an engine fire and requested permission for emergency landing.
However, the plane’s internal fire fighting mechanisms had managed to subdue the flames, which had erupted in the right engine of the A-310, before the plane landed back in Karachi.
PIA is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident of flight PK 213 Karachi - Dubai of Sunday night, a PIA spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.
PIA added that a team of dedicated PIA engineers is in the process of minutely checking the aircraft engine which developed a fault during flight.
The engine of the aircraft is also being assessed by CAA authorities and the findings will be shared with manufacturer General Electric for their input as well.
COMMENTS (14)
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With so much energy in this nation .why not someone make it a mission to campaign for a group activity movement to make the concerned authority to improve PIA and other state enterprises .is anybody in Pakistan ready not to criticize and dedicate his time for a peaceful and effective people movement and campaign to improve the state enterprises.like PIA. And Pakistan steel . Alone this movement can save around 150 Bln per annul tax payer money.
One of my cousin's travelling from UK on PIA shared some views with me on email. He will be travelling for the first time on PIA since 1976.
"I am coming on the overnight PIA flight because being direct it is so much shorter journey than using one of the Middle East airlines. I have been noticing more and more about PIA since booking and my goodness they do look to be in very significant financial difficulty and a little turmoil according to reports here though the reviews on the service provided are generally very good".
@Asim Ali: It was an airbus a380 the one they acquired on lease just a few years ago. Idiots will remain idiot
@The Shaikh: You hit the nail on the head.
Does anyone care why an airplane with a seating capacity of 130+ was only carrying 54 passengers on board?
What is the use of an inquiry when the cause is already known? The cause is nepotism in employment, avarice...salary, perks, and promotions - lack of education - lack of supervision - lack of attention to duty leading to negligence - outdated airplanes - over staffing and over lapping of authority and functions. There is your report. Salams
@jin: Quite amused by your outburst. I pay taxes in 6 figures monthly to the country. I have a high expectation set from our national institutions. And when i see my tax money burnt to ashes, I have every right in the world to criticize. So stop living in a fools paradise and talk of PIA pilots when the organization is bleeding billions every year. And burning my tax money
Was pre-flight checks carried out before departure.???
PIA is a classic example of an organisation that shouldn't be privatised but revitalised, but our government came to power not on its own but by wheeling and dealing, and that does not allow a govt. to take drastic steps to cure the cancer eating away at our national institutions.
Please sell this Airline ..when the lanes start falling out of the sky on a daily basis will you then sell ..?
Whats there to investigate? Buy plans preferably not more then 20 years old !
The PIA Aircraft was supposed to be checked throughly before the departure of the flight.
The question arises as who gave clearance to the flight to take off from Karachi?
@Asim Ali:
frustrated pakistanis like u r the real cause of today's problems. U probably live abroad, have never travelled with PIA and here u r throwing mud at PIA? Shame on you!
PIA has the BEST pilorts, the most convenient customer service and I always travel with PIA. So please enclose your frustration within your backward mindset.
Please dont bother. PIA is a sick organization with outdated planes, terrible customer service,an organization which is irrelevant to the people who travel on it, a safety hazard, governed by a sick Union, and is staffed with highly political personnel who are greedy, corrupt and do not mean well for either the airlines or the country. What PIA needs is change in mindset, which is derived from leadership. Unfortunately for this the country needs to wait till the current lot's term expires after 5 years or the new COAS gives them a boot earlier on.