KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and chief of the pilots’ association compromised the Civil Aviation Authority’s safety regulations by operating a long-haul flight without taking the mandatory rest thus putting the lives of 200 passengers at risk, said a reliable source.

Amir Hashmi, president of the Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association (Palpa), operated a flight across the Atlantic ocean with his predecessor, former chief of the association Sohail Baloch, without taking the mandatory rest of 24 hours, said the source.

However, Mr Hashmi, responding to Dawn’s queries, insisted that he had not committed any violation. A PIA spokesman, supporting the Palpa chief, said he flew the plane in the second half of the journey after taking an additional rest of six to seven hours.

Mr Hashmi, the source said, arrived in New York in the last week of March and immediately proceeded to Panama City to attend an international conference of pilots. The PIA bore all his expenses.

He left Panama City on March 31 at 6.28pm and after travelling 2,216 miles northwards as a passenger reached New York at 12.35am on April 1, said the source. Mr Hashmi operated flight PK722 the same day which took off from the John F. Kennedy airport at 8.05pm. He took rest of 19 hours and 30 minutes as against the required 24 hours.

The CAA’s Air Navigation Order deals with ‘Rest Requirement’ of 24 hours for long flights prior to their scheduled departure, said the source. Even, PIA’s Operational Manual requires 24 hours rest for operating such flights.

The PIA normally shifts its Karachi-based crew to Lahore a day earlier for operating flights to Canada to meet the required rest period of 24 hours, said the source.

It is necessary to ensure the agility and alertness of crew before it embarks upon long flights since any violation may lead to disastrous consequences.

Mr Hashmi, talking to Dawn, contested the charge, saying the rule applied to a person on duty and not if he travelled as a passenger, as he (Mr Hashmi) flew from Panama to New York as a passenger. He admitted operating flight after arriving in New York the same day, and that the PIA paid for his ticket and TA/DA. He said his rest period was completed and no air safety was compromised.

The PIA spokesman said that Mr Hashmi, after arriving in New York, rested for 20 hours and then operated the flight in the second half of the journey as Sohail Baloch flew the flight in the first half, giving some six to seven hours of additional rest to Mr Hashmi.

He also agreed to shifting the Karachi-based crew to Lahore ahead of Canada flight.

The sources said that other cockpit crew members in that flight, besides Sohair Baloch were flight officers Qasim Khan and Ms Maryam who also did not object to Mr Hashmi’s operating the flight.