Doubts abound on pilot’s handling of jet, ATC conduct

THE MOST SERIOUS QUESTION, THE REPORT SAYS, WAS WHY AND HOW ALARM SYSTEMS INSIDE THE COCKPIT FAILED TO WARN PILOTS OF AN IMPENDING EMERGENCY?

KARACHI: A preliminary report on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash, in which 97 people were killed, has raised serious questions about the pilot’s handling of the aircraft and what prevented crew from informing air traffic controllers (ATC) about troubles.

According to the report, prepared by the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Airbus A-320’s engines had scraped the runway thrice on the pilot’s first attempt to land, causing friction and sparks. After the third impact, pilot took the aircraft off again, which was strange as crew did not inform ATC of problems , The News International quoted CAA sources as saying.

When the aircraft scraped the ground on first failed attempt, the oil tank and fuel pump may have been damaged, preventing pilot from achieving required thrust and speed to raise aircraft.

The pilot made a decision “on his own” to undertake a “go-around” after he failed to land the first time. It was only during the go-around that ATC was informed, it said.

“The pilot was directed by ATC to take the aircraft to 3,000 feet, but he managed only 1,800. When the cockpit was reminded to go for 3,000, the first officer said ‘we are trying’,” the report said.

Investigators were trying to establish why the pilots not once informed the ATC despite the visible problems aircraft was facing, the report said.