KARACHI: After the back to back incidents involving the ATR planes including the tragic Havelian crash, Pakistan International Airlines decided to ground all its ATR planes for thorough examination.
A PIA spokesman said that that all the 10 ATR the national flag carrier has in its fleet will remain grounded till they are cleared after thorough examination.
He added that shakedown tests of PIA’s entire ATR fleet will be held in view of Civil Aviation Authority’s decision.
Temporary suspension of operation will particularly affect the PIA flights to smaller airports like Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, Moenjodaro, Zhob, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Chitral and Gilgit. The spokesman has advised passengers to check status of their flights from PIA Call Center at 111-786-786.
It is to be mentioned here that an ATR aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines engine caught fire during takeoff at Multan yesterday. On December 7, an ATR plane of PIA, PK-661, enroute Islamabad from Chitral crashed near Havelain, wherein all the 48 passengers and crew on-board died.
