On the evening of September 23, 2024, an Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore-bound Fly Jinnah flight, designated FL-846, performed a miraculous emergency landing, preventing what would have likely been another worst type of disaster.171 passengers and crew were on board this Karachi to Lahore bound flight when suddenly, the captain issued distress calls right before it was due to land.
By 7:15 PM, when the plane began its descent into its approach, the captain reported smoke within the cargo area, which elicited a ‘Mayday’ alert. Quick response from the flight crew and from the authorities in the airport was critical. Proper operating procedures require that the airport’s Fire Department be prepared and ready to face any emergency that might occur in landing.
The aircraft touched the ground safely at 7:23 PM. Fire brigades and ambulances were waiting at that time for the aircraft’s landing. Prompt responses of the crew and emergency services ensured all passengers and crew members were evacuated safely through the emergency chute system without injuries. The fire department declared the aircraft safe for further operations until the tail from its nose at 7:57 PM.
This is the second emergency event for Fly Jinnah within less than three months period. On May 24, 2024, another flight developed a serious fault in pressurization, leading to the putting on oxygen masks at 8,000 feet, and was subsequently flown back to Lahore. This has caused so much concern as regards the safety approaches of this airline and operation procedures.
The incident occurred, according to a Fly Jinnah spokesperson, as the crew had adhered to every safety procedure since the smoke alarm had gone off in the cargo compartment. An internal technical team is currently conducting a thorough investigation to identify the cause of the smoke alert.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) is also involved, in conducting an investigation so that safety measures are appropriately assessed and, if valid reasons exist for this, improved. Given the recent history surrounding emergencies of the airline in question, safety measures are increasingly being highlighted in questions appearing in the broader aviation community.
More recently, scandals related to Fly Jinnah have reopened the debate over the reliability of air safety procedures in Pakistan. After a scandal in 2020 that exposed how most of the pilots held fraudulent licenses, a strict approach at policy levels has started building immense pressure on authorities to regain public confidence in the sector. Thousands of pilots from different airlines, including PIA, have been grounded as the need for reforms has been greatly highlighted.
Thus, with the passage of the years, the disastrous PIA flight PK-8303 crash in Karachi on May 22, 2020, took the lives of 97 passengers and prompted urgent calls for reform to adjust the standards of safety. The subsequent scrutiny of pilot qualifications and airline operations is an area for serious focus on the part of the PCAA and other regulatory agencies.
It would indeed be paradoxical for such an emergency landing by a Fly Jinnah flight, FL-846, to bring home such a harsh reminder of preparedness and safety in aviation. Of course, it is but for the fact that flight crews and airport authorities responded very promptly and effectively that disaster was averted in this case. As investigations into the incident go on, the industry waits to see whether changes will be implemented that will make a difference for the better – one that will ensure the safety of passengers and crew in the skies in the future.
The successful landing of flight FL-846 thus spells success for crisis management but remains underlined by challenges that persist in Pakistan’s airline industry. Stakeholders should revisit safety procedures and training to standardize safety related to the nation’s airlines.
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