PIA issues show-cause notices to pilot, two others for passenger overloading

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has issued show-cause notices to a pilot and two others officials for loading seven extra passengers on a Karachi-Medina flight last month in a violation of air safety regulations.

The Dawn quoted PIA spokesman Danyal Gilani, as saying that, "Disciplinary action has been taken against all concerned officials."

Captain Anwer Adil, senior purser Hina Turab, and terminal manager Akbar Ali Shah were issued notices for allegedly letting extra passengers travel on jump seats and the cockpit on PIA flight PK-743.

The development came after an inquiry committee set up by the airline found the allegations to be true.

"After in-depth investigation... it has been confirmed that passenger[s] travelled on [the] flight are over and above of the aircraft configuration (including jump seats) which is a clear violation of SOP [standard operating procedures] and violation of passenger safety," read a report signed by Manager Operations Sohail Jaffar Ali.

As per SOPs in cases like these, the report said, the aircraft should be parked again to offload extra passengers "which was not done in this case".

"Such type of violation/irregularity cannot be ignored in which safety of the passenger[s] is on [sic] stake."

Sources said Captain Adil will not be able to operate flights after being issued the notice. The Civil Aviation Authority is also investigating allegations of safety violation against the captain.

Captain Adil is in a state of denial about the incident and sought a transparent inquiry.