Plane crash: The pilot did not follow the instructions of the air traffic controller: CAA

The French Air Safety Organization has announced that the black box data of PK-8303 flight has been successfully downloaded while the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has informed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) through a letter that pilot did not follow air traffic control instructions.

It may be recalled that on May 22, a National Airlines (PIA) passenger plane crashed in a densely populated area of ​​Model Colony near Karachi Airport, killing 97 people, including crew members, while two passengers were miraculously rescued.

The June 2 letter from CAA official Iftikhar Ahmed to the PIA safety and quality assurance department, while pointing out “non-compliance of ATC instructions” by PK-8303, asked him to “ensure avoidance of recurrence of such situation in the interest of flight safety”.

A PIA spokesperson Wednesday that the national flag carrier would respond as per regulations.

Taking strong exception, the Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (Palpa) said on Wednesday that release of limited details about the crash was tantamount to influencing the ongoing investigation.

The CAA letter said the duty approach controller had raised a non-compliance report in respect of the pilot of PK-8303.

It claimed that the pilot was warned twice about his speed and high altitude for approach but he did not follow.

The letter said that PK-8303 was cleared to an altitude of 3,000 feet while entering the control zone that is 25 nautical miles (NM), but the aircraft was spotted at a high altitude of over 5,000 feet over Makli.

“The same was communicated to the pilot who reported comfortable for descent. Later, at 10NM pilot was again cautioned by offering an orbit to adjust his high altitude for approach, which he did not accept,” it added.

The French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) said in a tweet on Wednesday that the data of flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The two components of a plane’s black box were successfully downloaded by the BEA.

Analysis of data in progress and will continue this week, the BEA tweet said.

It mentioned that it was doing so at the request of the Aircraft Accident and Investigation Board (AAIB) and any further communication would be made after mutual concurrence.

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