In a recent development, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has responded to warnings issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regarding the safety of flight operations at low altitudes in Pakistani airports. The EASA had previously raised concerns about the presence of “violent non-state actor groups with confirmed anti-aviation weaponry” in Pakistan, posing a potential risk to flights below 26,000 feet in Lahore and Karachi. The advisory is set to remain in effect until January 31, 2024.
Following the EASA advisory, several European nations, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, also issued low-altitude warnings to their airlines operating in Pakistani airspace.
The PCAA, however, vehemently defended Pakistan’s aviation safety record, stating that not a single passenger plane flying at low altitudes in Pakistani airports had ever been targeted by saboteurs. According to the PCAA, more than 396,000 international flights have successfully landed in Pakistan since November 2022, and 379,000 domestic and international flights have taken off from Pakistani airports, all while adhering to established flight procedures.
The PCAA’s assertion is rooted in the fact that aircraft typically begin their descent and enter landing gear mode when flying at altitudes between 35,000 and 25,000 feet. At this altitude range, terrorists do not possess the long-distance rockets required to target aircraft effectively.
It’s worth noting that this is not the first time Pakistan has received warnings from international aviation organizations. The PCAA revealed that it has received over 10 warnings from various organizations since 2015, but it maintains that these alerts have not been substantiated by actual security incidents.
In light of these statements, Pakistan continues to assert its commitment to ensuring the safety of air travel within its airspace. As the aviation industry gr
