PIA CEO visits residences of deceased officials of flight PK-661

KARACHI: The Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan International Airlines, Bernd Hildenbrand, on Friday visited the residences of PIA officials who lost their lives in the tragic crash of PK-661 and offered heartfelt condolences. 

The residences included those of airhostess Asma Adil, Captain Saleh Yar Janjua, first officer, Aaly Akram, aircraft engineer Asim Waqas and first officer Ahmed Janjua.

While saying that no amount of money can compensate for the loss of human life, the CEO presented Rs500,000 cash to each of the bereaved families. He mentioned that this amount was only to meet the funeral expenses and would be followed by a comprehensive compensation package as per law.

He was accompanied by Chief Operating Officer Captain Qasim Hayat, Director Safety Captain Naveed Aziz and Director Vigilance Brig. (retd) Mohammad Asif. 

Meanwhile, with reference to some media reports regarding the ATR not being a safe aircraft, the PIA spokesman has claimed that ATR is perfectly safe for flying and is useful and economical on short haul flights in both hot and cold weather conditions.  He also claimed that several of these aircraft were being operated by airlines in India and Europe. He further claimed that media reports suggesting that there was some known defect in the aircraft before its last flight are also totally baseless. “It defies common sense that pilots and engineers would fly an aircraft that does not meet safety standards, and risk their own lives.” He also mentioned that on the directions of chairman and CEO PIA, an amount of Rs500,000 cash was being given to the next of kin of all the 47 persons who lost their lives in the tragic ATR crash to meet funeral expenses. 

According to him, the district managers have been directed to personally visit the residences of the deceased and hand over the amount in cash. “This will be followed by a comprehensive compensation package as per law.”

The PIA aircraft ATR-42 (AP-BHO) crashed near Havelian at 4:42pm on December 07, 2016. As many as 42 passengers, five crew members and one ground engineer were on board. The crash site is near a small village called Saddha Batolni near Havelian.