Aviation minister says PIA utility follows the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group clearing the airline in a security audit.
Karachi, Pakistan – Pakistan Worldwide Airways (PIA), the nationwide flag service of the South Asian nation, expects to restart European flight operations, suspended in 2020 over security issues, by March, the nation’s aviation minister says.
Talking at a press convention within the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Thursday, Ghulam Sarwar Khan mentioned the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO) had cleared Pakistani aviation in a security audit performed late final 12 months, and that PIA had utilized for a resumption of European operations.
Europe’s aviation regulator, the European Union Aviation Security Company (EASA), suspended flights operated by Pakistani carriers in 2020, following the crash of a PIA Airbus A320 within the southern metropolis of Karachi that killed 97 passengers and triggered a subsequent authorities investigation into fraudulent licensing practices.
On Thursday, Aviation Minister Khan mentioned 50 Pakistani pilots’ licences had been cancelled following the investigation, with 5 Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority officers fired and charged with fraud.
No less than eight pilots at PIA had been dismissed in reference to the investigation, he mentioned.
“We hope that in February or March [PIA flight] operations in Europe will start once more,” he mentioned.
In July 2020, an Al Jazeera investigation discovered widespread allegations of fraud in pilot licensing procedures in Pakistan. A number of pilots additionally expressed concern over security requirements, with one senior pilot describing the scenario as “a ticking time bomb”.
Pakistan has seen 5 main business or constitution airliner crashes since 2010, killing not less than 445 individuals.
The identical interval has seen quite a few non-fatal plane accidents, together with mid-flight engine shutdowns, touchdown gear failures, runway overruns and not less than one on-the-ground collision, official studies present.
Thursday’s announcement got here a day after the ICAO gave Pakistan’s civil aviation regulator the all-clear on resolving important security issues, after an audit group visited the nation late in 2021.
Khan mentioned Pakistan was overhauling its pilot certification course of, signing an settlement with United Kingdom civil aviation authorities for pilots to be licensed and examined along side that company.
Asad Hashim is Al Jazeera’s digital correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim.