Ill-fated aircraft: Police granted remand of ‘intoxicated’ pilot

Mehmood’s counsel says he is being framed.


Our Correspondent November 17, 2015
PHOTO: MALIK SHAFIQ / EXPRESS

LAHORE: Captain Asmat Mehmood, the allegedly intoxicated pilot of a Shaheen Air International aircraft that crash-landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on November 3, was handed over to police on a seven-day physical remand by an Anti-Terrorism Court on Tuesday. 

Sarwar Road police produced Mehmood at the court. The judge asked the IO to justify the inclusion of terrorism charges in the FIR against the pilot on the case’s next date of hearing.

The counsel for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told the court that Mehmood had endangered the lives of hundreds of people. He said Mehmood had been flying the aircraft in an inebriated state. The counsel said the aircraft could have rammed into a building while landing with devastating consequences. He said Mehmood could very well be affiliated with an outlawed organisation. The counsel said it was therefore necessary to obtain his remand.

Mehmood’s counsel said his client was not intoxicated. He said he had saved the lives of hundreds of passengers who had later lionised him as a hero. Mehmood’s counsel said the CAA was attempting to save Shaheen by scapegoating his client.

The judge sent the pilot on a seven-day physical remand following the conclusion of arguments.

An FIR of the incident was lodged at Sarwar Road police station following a complaint by Terminal Manager Muhammad Sabeel of the CAA.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2015.

COMMENTS (1)

Sodomite | 8 years ago | Reply The police should not spare anyone. Pilot, Shaheen, Civil Aviation, Air Traffic Controllers at Lahore Airport and security staff at the departing airport for not stopping the Pilot from boarding the aircraft in the first place. There were multiple failures at each step and they all need to be indicted.
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