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Since 1947 Pakistan has had 7 major air crashes or major flight incidents in her 70-year history. The latest being Pakistan International Airlines flight 661, from Chitral Airport to Islamabad Airport which failed to make it to its destination; Crashing in Havelian, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 07 December 2016.
In 2014 Pakistan announced National Air Transportation Safety Board Act, 2014. The purpose of NATSB was to conduct an independent investigation into air crashes that resulted in injury or loss of life due to partial damage or complete destruction of aircraft, due to any reason whether technical or otherwise. However, despite NATSB's sole purpose being to conduct an independent investigation into any air crash within Pakistan or any Pakistani aircraft flying abroad, the responsibility of investigation fell to Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for regulating airlines, flying schools and other flight related infrastructures within the country for a safe working environment, efficient and swift moment of air traffic and reducing the chances of air incidents taking place. Around the world Civil Aviation Authorities do not conduct investigations into air crashes, this is because it reduces the chances of hiding mishaps by the CAA. The United States has National Transportation Safety Board for conducting investigations into air crashes, after an investigation is complete the NTSB recommends changes in regulation to the Federal Aviation Authority (The US version of CAA). It is up to the FAA to decide whether they accept the recommendations. Despite Pakistan having an independent body to investigate air crashes, the responsibility to find out the reason behind the crash still falls to the CAA.
It has now been nearly a year since Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661 crashed, claiming 47 lives. At the time of the crash the aircraft was 9 years old and had recorded 18,739 flight hours. The aircraft was a French made ATR-42, which has a good safety record overall. An initial report by the CAA claimed to have said the cause of the crash to be due malfunction of the number one engine at an altitude of 13,375Ft, it’s claimed the pilot of flight 661 declared a mayday at 16:12 which was followed by an uncontrolled descend.
A year on there has been no final report published by the Civil Aviation Authority and no press conference held to discuss the finding with the public and the media.
I have attached a copy of NATSB Act, 2014.
In 2014 Pakistan announced National Air Transportation Safety Board Act, 2014. The purpose of NATSB was to conduct an independent investigation into air crashes that resulted in injury or loss of life due to partial damage or complete destruction of aircraft, due to any reason whether technical or otherwise. However, despite NATSB's sole purpose being to conduct an independent investigation into any air crash within Pakistan or any Pakistani aircraft flying abroad, the responsibility of investigation fell to Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for regulating airlines, flying schools and other flight related infrastructures within the country for a safe working environment, efficient and swift moment of air traffic and reducing the chances of air incidents taking place. Around the world Civil Aviation Authorities do not conduct investigations into air crashes, this is because it reduces the chances of hiding mishaps by the CAA. The United States has National Transportation Safety Board for conducting investigations into air crashes, after an investigation is complete the NTSB recommends changes in regulation to the Federal Aviation Authority (The US version of CAA). It is up to the FAA to decide whether they accept the recommendations. Despite Pakistan having an independent body to investigate air crashes, the responsibility to find out the reason behind the crash still falls to the CAA.
It has now been nearly a year since Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661 crashed, claiming 47 lives. At the time of the crash the aircraft was 9 years old and had recorded 18,739 flight hours. The aircraft was a French made ATR-42, which has a good safety record overall. An initial report by the CAA claimed to have said the cause of the crash to be due malfunction of the number one engine at an altitude of 13,375Ft, it’s claimed the pilot of flight 661 declared a mayday at 16:12 which was followed by an uncontrolled descend.
A year on there has been no final report published by the Civil Aviation Authority and no press conference held to discuss the finding with the public and the media.
I have attached a copy of NATSB Act, 2014.
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