KARACHI, KOMPAS.com – As a result of revealing nearly a third of Pakistan International Airlines pilot licenses are fake or dubious, the European Union has banned the airline from airing on the Blue Continent for 6 months.
The decision was conveyed by the European Union Aviation Security Agency (EASA) on Tuesday (6/30/2020).
EASA told PIA they were “still not convinced” other PIA pilots were eligible, and “had lost confidence” in the airline, PIA spokesman Abdullah Khan told AFP.
Also read: Aftermath of a Plane Crash Kills 97 People, Revealed 40 Percent of Pakistani Pilots are Fake
EASA in a statement said it had suspended PIA and Pakistan’s smaller private airlines.
The reason is that a recent investigation by the Pakistani Parliament found some of the pilot licenses issued were invalid.
PIA in recent months has only flown a small portion of international routes due to the corona virus pandemic.
But after the domestic route opened again last month, an accident immediately occurred that killed 98 people.
Also read: Witness: Corpse Falls from Sky When Pakistani PIA Plane Crashes
Then recently PIA has re-opened bookings for routes to 5 major cities in Europe, including Paris, Milan and Barcelona.
For flights to the UK because it is no longer part of the European Union, it is not affected.
The suspension from the European Union is the latest impact for the PIA after Pakistan’s Aviation Minister revealed, 262 of the 860 active Pakistani pilots licensed shots and used jockeys during exams.
More than half came from PIA, and the airline said it would immediately freeze 141 of its 434 pilots.
Also read: Gunship License, 262 Pakistani Pilots Test Using Jockey
EASA said it had suspended PIA “because of concerns about the ability of competent authorities to ensure that Pakistani aviation operators comply with international standards that apply at all times.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said in parliament he would overhaul the PIA and other government agencies.
“I want to tell my people: We have no other choice, reforms cannot be avoided,” he said on Tuesday (6/30/2020).
Also read: Pakistan Stock Exchange Is Thrown by Grenades and Fired, 6 People Killed
Pakistan Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan explained, reforms to restructure the PIA will be completed by the end of this year.
On May 22 a PIA plane crashed into a settlement in Karachi. The accident killed 97 people on the plane and a child in a settlement.
Investigators uncovered the cause of the accident because the pilot was unfocused, who chatted about the corona virus so it did not lower the wheels during the first attempt of landing the Airbus A320.
Also read: Plane Crash in Pakistan that Kills 97 People because of Pilot Discuss Covid-19
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