PIA narrowly avoids two accidents in a single day
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft narrowly
averted two accidents in a single day, highlighting the challenges faced by the
financially strained airline.
According to aviation sources, a PIA flight that was
originally en route from Abu Dhabi to Lahore had to be diverted to Sialkot due
to adverse weather conditions. Upon landing in Sialkot, flight PK-264 attempted
to take off again but encountered a bird strike, necessitating another
emergency landing.
During the second landing, the aircraft experienced the
bursting of three tires, narrowly avoiding a significant accident at Sialkot
Airport.
Pakistan’s
airspace is completely safe: PCAA
Regrettably, the passengers had to continue their journey to
Lahore by bus, although a PIA spokesperson assured that replacement tires were
being sent from Lahore to Sialkot for the aircraft.
It is worth noting that PIA has been grappling with a series
of issues, including flight delays and subpar service, over an extended period.
The national flag carrier, once considered a success story by international
standards, recently faced the imminent grounding of 15 of its planes due to
financial troubles.
The challenges confronting PIA worsened further when reports
surfaced that the supply of spare parts to the airline could be disrupted due
to cash flow problems.
There have been persistent calls for the privatization of
the national carrier due to its economic unviability. Former Aviation Minister
Khawaja Saad Rafique emphasized the importance of privatization as an
alternative to potential shutdown.
Aviation
safety: Bird strike incidents decline in Pakistan
During the final days of the PDM regime, a decision was made
to privatize the loss-making Pakistan International Airlines during a meeting
of the Cabinet Committee on Privatization, presided over by then Finance
Minister Ishaq Dar. The committee, after deliberation, resolved to include
Pakistan International Airlines Co. Ltd. in the list of active privatization
projects under the ongoing privatization program, following a legislative
amendment by the Parliament, as stated in a finance ministry release.
Source: Daily Pakistan