RAWALPINDI: After the collapse of a passenger boarding bridge at Islamabad International airport, a team of experts has been formed to examine all boarding bridges.

The examination will be carried out in three phases, starting from Islamabad International Airport and then at Quaid-i-Azam International Airport, Karachi, Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, and Multan Airport.

However, the report of a four-member board of inquiry constituted to investigate the collapse has been delayed as the board, which was supposed to submit the report on Oct 22,could not complete its investigations. The report is expected to be submitted by Oct 26 now.

According to sources, the authorities concerned had been considering seeking an independent engineering analysis of the passenger boarding bridges, however, the decision is yet to be taken by the authorities concerned.

Board of inquiry will now be submitting report on IIA bridge collapse on Oct 26

A passenger boarding bridge no 5, which extends from the airport terminal gate to the airplane, collapsed moments after it was disconnected from a Gulf Airways flight that started taxing in Islamabad International Airport on Oct 9.

Shortly after the incident, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Hassan Baig constituted a four-member board of inquiry to probe into the incident and fix responsibility.

The board of inquiry was headed by CAA Deputy Director General Syed Amir Mehboob and assisted by Director Project Islamabad International Airport expansion project Sadiqur Rehman, Airport Manager Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar, Omaidur Rehman Abbasi and Senior Director Bacha Khan International Airport Peshawar Kamal Khan had been tasked to complete investigations and submit its report by Oct 22.

According to sources, the delay in the inquiry was because passenger bridge operator Mudassar, who was injured in the incident, was in hospital. After he resumes his duty, his statement would be recorded which the inquiry team believe would help them ascertain the circumstances that led to the collapse of the bridge.

The additional director ES (E&M), Islamabad International Airport, in his preliminary report had informed the authorities that after examining the collapsed bridge and the photographs taken of the scene, it appears that the gap between the bolt and pin was apparently more than normal.

While operating the bridge, the plates on top of the pin dislocated and came out which put the load on the bolt, and it became loose.The additional director also informed the authorities that two task forces had been constituted (one each for civil and E&M) from other locations to identify all issues pertaining to engineering services along with their possible solution within a week.

The inquiry board had been tasked to ascertain the damage and cost incurred by the Civil Aviation Authority, evaluate the performance and stability of other passenger bridges and verify whether the operator handling the bridges had been trained and qualified for the job.

However, the sources said it emerged during preliminary inquiry that the passenger bridge had been lacking proper routine maintenance which may have caused its collapse.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2018

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