Islamabad tragedy – a close call
Raza Rumi from Islamabad
Update: no survivors – earlier media reports remain unconfirmed
Ten minutes before the air crash this morning I was in a PIA aircraft that was unable to land at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport for 45 minutes. We were meant to land at 8.50 am but the pilot informed around 9 am that he was unable to land. He kept on circulating around Islamabad avoiding a major storm, heavy rain and lack of visibility. The passengers were quite petrified. Even I woke up from my early morning nap and could not help wondering if these were my last moments. It was rocky, turbulent ride.
The plane finally landed at 9.45 am. The pilot was clever as he took different air routes and navigated the plane well. As we landed, my phone started to ring and just outside the airport when the news broke out, my friend from overseas called to inquire if I was OK. I had no clue that this horrible tragedy had occurred. Several calls followed.
While we were landing, it makes me shiver that another aircraft had lost contact with the control tower in Islamabad and was about to crash amid thick fog and heavy rainfall.
As I drove to Islamabad, smoke from the rain-washed Margallas was visible. The onlookers were terrified to see this tragedy unfold in front of their eyes.
At present, Margalla Road (also known as Khayaban e Iqbal) is closed for traffic as the rescue operations are underway. Thank God there are survivors many of them have been air-lifted. But this is going to be a long and arduous operation given the scale and the problem of accessing the hills via road.
It is a sad day – raises several questions about airlines’ regulation, the aviation industry and of course our ability to prevent and manage disasters & emergencies.
My prayers are with the families of the deceased and the injured survivors.
Oh Raza: Thanks God You are safe. But I am really very sad for those who were not lucky like you.
Well; many questions will be and should raised about the regulations, and then Media will be blamed for again creating hype out of an accident.
I was watching TV after the accident, and I came to know that Pakistan is following ANR4 instead of ANR3 (internationally accepted protocols for flight safety). The Association of the Pakistani Pilots (PALPA) has been taking up this matter with PIA and Civil Aviation since long, but to no success. Ironically, when the TV anchor asked DG Civil Aviation on live phone call, to explain for the audience, what these ANR3, and ANR4 were! he first put the phone on hold, and was found asking someone else around him, what these terms meant! and then later, on he cut the line off.
That simply means, that lives of all who frequently travel by Air, are at stake just for the slackness and unwillingness of Pakistani Govt. to follow the internationally accepted Air Navigation Regulations.
And I also hated the PM and CMs whole lot flying in a heli over the place of incidence. Gilani’s mouth was continuously moving as if he was chewing a gum. And Shehbaz Sharif was enjoying the beautiful aerial view of Islamabad cityscape – looking opposite side of the Margala hills.
Pakistan Zindabad has very rightly been rephrased as PAKISTAN SAY ZINDA BHAAG.
Thank God you guys are safe!. Give some sadqa Rumi sahab
Ordinary citizens’ lives don’t quite have the same value as those of VIPs in our two countries.
Glad to know you are safe!