Maintenance body blamed for PIA jet crash in 2016

ISLAMABAD: The Safety Investigation Board (SIB) of Pakistan has blamed in its report maintenancedepartmentofpakistan International Airlines (PIA) for the crash of PK-661 in Havelian, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, in which noted singer Junaid Jamshed was also killed.

The SIB tasked to probe into the PIA plane crash near Havilian in 2016 has compiled a preliminary report that pointed out the maintenance lapse would be the possible cause of the incident and giving some immediate suggestions and recommendations to avoid such incidents in future.

The PIA plane (PK-661) with 48 people, Junaid Jamshed, his wife and Deputy Commissioner Chitral Osama Warraich, on board had crashed in Saddha Batolni village near Havelian, reported a private news channels.

The report, titled Immediate Safety Recommendations, states that the investigation into the crash is heading towards a concluding stage, however, some important indings of technical nature require immediate attention of the authorities concerned.

“Sequence of events was initiated with dislodging of one blade of Power Turbine Stage (PT-1), inside Engine No 1 (left side engine) due to fatigue. This dislodging of one blade resulted in in-light engine shut down, and it contributed towards erratic/ abnormal behaviour of NO 1 Propeller,” reads the report.

According to a Service Bulletin, these turbines blades were to be changed after completion of 10,000 hours, on immediate next maintenance opportunity.

“The said engine was under maintenance on Nov.11, 2016, at that time these blades had completed 10004 hours (due for a change).