KARACHI, Oct 30: Post arrival search of aircraft and collection of abandoned articles after disembarkation of all passengers has been entrusted to the cabin crew.
This decision of the manager Flight Services is being resented by the cabin crew, mostly women who are untrained to handle any explosive device. They think it highly dangerous.
Earlier, this responsibility was of the Airport Security Staff who would cover the front and rea doors of aircraft soon after disembarkation of the passengers, and check the sanitary staff assigned the cleaning work of the plane. In case any suspicious article was found, it was reported to the captain for deputing trained security personnel to handle the situation. The crew members have alleged that the practice was abandoned to create insecurity among them, as on their complaint the manager Flight Service (technical and standards) was reverted to his original post. Before relinquishing the charge, he issued a circular directing that the post arrival search of aircraft would be carried out by the cabin crew.
After disembarkation of all passengers, CSOSP will deploy one crew at the front exit door and the other at the rear exit, while the rest of the crew as per area of responsibility will search the plane. If any thing is retrieved during the search it will be jointly taken to lost and found and deposited by the CSO/SP and the traffic staff attending the arrival.
The aircraft after the search will be handed over to the duty aircraft engineer who will introduce himself to CSO/SP/FP on arrival before the disembarkation starts.
