KARACHI: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilot demonstrated exceptional skill and composure when faced with a critical hydraulic malfunction during flight PK 213 from Karachi to Dubai.
Flight PK-213, which took off from Karachi at 2:05 AM, experienced a hydraulic system malfunction while flying over Muscat. The skilled pilot promptly declared an emergency, coordinating effectively with Muscat Air Traffic Control (ATC) and radar services. Thanks to the pilot’s expertise, the hydraulic issue was managed mid-flight, allowing the aircraft to stabilize at a lower altitude of 10,000 feet.
The flight ultimately landed safely in Dubai, completing its journey after maintaining the reduced altitude for about an hour. Upon arrival, the Airbus A320 underwent a thorough inspection and was cleared for its next scheduled flights to Islamabad and Skardu.
A PIA spokesperson also highlighted that the airline is currently facing a shortage of aircraft parts due to administrative challenges.
In a separate incident, a private airline successfully executed an emergency landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport after smoke was detected in the cargo area. The pilot promptly requested an emergency landing, ensuring all passengers were safely offloaded while a technical team investigated the source of the smoke.
The recent events occur against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of Pakistan’s aviation protocols, which have been under fire since 2020. This came after revelations that approximately 262 out of 860 active Pakistani pilots allegedly held fraudulent licenses, leading to the grounding of around 150 pilots from PIA and other airlines.
The issues surrounding pilot certification gained further attention following the tragic crash of PIA flight PK-8303 in Karachi on May 22, 2020. This disaster resulted in the suspension of PIA’s operations in the European Union and several other regions, sparking widespread calls for regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing safety standards and ensuring greater transparency within the aviation sector.
