About 40% of pilots in Pakistan use a fake flight license
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he scene of an airplane crash in Karachi. (Photo: AFP / TTXVN) |
After a horrific accident in the city of Karachi determined due to human error, Pakistani officials began to strengthen the management tightening for pilots.
On June 26, Pakistan
Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that about 40% of pilots in Pakistan
own a fake flight permit and certificate.
Khan released the
information during a preliminary investigation report on the Airbus A320 crash
in the port city of Karachi last month.
Accordingly, Minister Khan
said that Pakistan currently has a total of 860 pilots working, including a
team of pilots belonging to the international airline of Pakistan (PIA),
airline Serene Air and Air Blue.
An investigation conducted
in February 2019 showed that 262 pilots did not conduct the tests themselves
and asked others to take them for themselves.
The investigation process
also discovered that many pilots carried a fake license, even without
experience of flying in accordance with standards. 40% of pilots who have
a fake flight license also include hundreds of "never-before-fly"
pilots.
Minister Khan also admitted
that it was a pity that many pilots were chosen on a political basis, while
many people who were judged with flying ability were ignored. Authorities
have sent notices to at least 54 pilots on fraud and so far at least nine
people have admitted to using fake licenses.
Earlier in the day, Airlines International
Pakistan announced it would temporarily suspend more than
1/3 of its pilots for investigation on suspicion of unlicensed fake fly, is not
clear.
Accordingly, 150 of the 426
PIA pilots will be suspended temporarily for investigation. The PIA's move
comes after Pakistani authorities made preliminary investigative conclusions on
the horrific plane crash in Karachi city in late May that killed nearly 100
people.
Initial investigation
results show that faults caused by pilots and air traffic controllers are
believed to be the cause of the accident. According to the preliminary
investigation report, the pilots were said to be engrossed in talking about the
COVID-19 disease, so they ignored three warnings about flying too high and
landing when unopened.
In addition, the
investigating agency also discovered many administrative violations and gaps at
PIA. The incident occurred only three days after Pakistan began resuming
flights after the COVID-19 epidemic.
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