Shaheen Air pilot booked under Anti-Terrorism Act

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

LAHORE: Police registered a case on Sunday under the anti-terrorism act against the pilot of the Shaheen Air flight that crashlanded in Lahore on Nov 3.

At least 10 passengers were injured when a Shaheen Air International flight crash landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport earlier this month. The pilot of the aircraft was not only fatigued but was also under the influence of alcohol, the acting director general of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told Dawn on Thursday.

Read: Aircraft escapes crash in Lahore

Lahore's Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Dr Haider Ashraf told Dawn on Sunday that a case was filed at the Sarwar Road police station against the pilot under Section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act (ATA).

The DIG said that the pilot was taken into custody after a team of Punjab police was sent to Karachi to arrest him.

Read editorial: Crash-landing

CAA’s acting director general Amjad Toor had announced on Thursday that the crew would have to undergo snap and random medical tests before operating a flight. He said the tests would be conducted as a precautionary measure and to ensure that such incidents did not recur.

Mr Toor directed airline representatives to ensure that their pilots met the highest level of aviation standards and refrained from flying under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile a statement issued by CAA's Public Relations Manager Pervez George said that "As per the Pakistan Civil Aviation Rules (CAR) approved by The Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, No Alcohol level is acceptable in the blood of any Pilot, cockpit crew, cabin crew and passengers."

The statement added, "However, Federal Aviation Authority USA permits the blood alcohol level up to 40mg per deciliter. The medical investigation reports of cockpit crew of M/s Shaheen Air International flight no. NL-142 just after the incident revealed that the pilot in command had unacceptable level of blood alcohol and lactate. The lactate indicates that the pilot was fatigued and had been drinking alcohol."

"It is further stated that the Alcohol Level in the blood sample of the pilot in command of M/s Shaheen Air International flight No. NL-142, was 83 mg per deciliter which was more than the double of the permissible amount by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), USA. Since the amount of alcohol was doubled of the permissible amount by FAA, USA. It had affected the central nervous impairment and also lead the pilot towards errors of judgment."

Previously, a Pakistan International Airlines pilot who was under the influence of alcohol was caught in the United Kingdom minutes before the flight. He confessed, served a jail term there and was also sacked by the airline.

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Pakistan

Imran Gabol is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn with over a decade of experience in journalism. He covers politics, climate change, human rights, education, and metropolitan affairs. He can be found on X at @gabolizm.

10 injured as Shaheen Air flight crash lands

Shaheen Air crash landing: Pilot was under the influence of alcohol, report finds

Anti-Terrorism Act: Section 7

fida

Nov 15, 2015 05:15pm

Horrifying news. Besides the Airline pilot, the management of the airline should be subjected to heavy fine and prison term.

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PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Nov 15, 2015 05:18pm

It is a serious offense. Playing with the lives of tens of thousands.

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Naseem

Nov 15, 2015 05:23pm

a very good move. The insurers will not settle the claim if the flight was under the control of influced pilot. How does the company justfy allowing it's aircrafts to be handled by person who are unfit to operate. The drugs test to be mandatory for all future flights.

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mike

Nov 15, 2015 05:32pm

Not acceptable.....what has police to do with this incident, the board of inquiry has not even completed, th e how come a pilot can be charged

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razi

Nov 15, 2015 05:37pm

How can a mature and trained pilot be so stupid? He must not be allowed to fly again of course but the more important step should be to prevent any such incident from happening ever again. I believe until now drinking was not very uncommon among pilots? And if I understand correctly, liquor is not available for sale in Pakistan?

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Ahmed

Nov 15, 2015 05:45pm

"CAA’s acting director general Amjad Toor had announced on Thursday that the crew would have to undergo snap and random medical tests" The appropriate name is Breath alcohol test. It is an electronic alcohol hand held meter which measures the amount of alcohol in the air of ones breathe. This is called blood-alcohol level. The alcohol content of exhaled air accurately reflects the alcohol content of the blood and helps test to know how much alcohol it takes to raise the blood-alcohol level Instead of random tests, it should be made mandatory.

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A. Ali

Nov 15, 2015 05:45pm

we cry for justice. now he is being indicted in ATC.. is it right to trial him under ATC ?. nevertheless, its a standard practice throughout the world to conduct "influence of alcohol or drugs" for airline crew. why he was not checked prior boarding the flight ?. can we hold the airline management as well in this case ?. or they are above the law as he is a minister in NA ?.

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Danish Anjum

Nov 15, 2015 05:54pm

@fida kindly elaborate that how management deserve the prison in this case?

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Khan Lala

Nov 15, 2015 06:01pm

I think they are trying to make the pilot a scapegoat bcz the Captain Imtiaz (In-charge for the investigation committee) has already told that these allegations are baseless and has appreciated the pilot for his efforts to save the lives of passengers....

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M.Saeed

Nov 15, 2015 06:03pm

This is an unpardonable fault of those who allowed inexperienced and lame management. There must be some rules about the experience and track record of the people managing such an important service involve safety and security of unsuspecting travelers. Appointing and allowing young children as joint executive heads in place of the expired head of the airline, is almost criminal.

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A. Mangal

Nov 15, 2015 06:13pm

It's breath analyzer test must be given on the spot to the crew before they board and take important job of flying the aircraft. How come fellow crew didn't notice the pilot in question was under influence?

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Zmahmed

Nov 15, 2015 06:20pm

Can someone explain how this is terrorism?

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Osman Siddiqi

Nov 15, 2015 06:20pm

Anti terrorism act? That makes no sense. The pilot should be remanded and asked to leave. The airline should be fined for not having enough measures in.

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Shaukat Ali Khan

Nov 15, 2015 06:22pm

Anti-Terrorism Act; how come? Pathetic !!!

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Bilal

Nov 15, 2015 06:31pm

He did a great job even under influence. Stop blaming the pilot and start blaming the company for operating a damaged aircraft.

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Khan Lala

Nov 15, 2015 06:42pm

Captain Imtiaz (a member of the investigation committee) has told media that Captain Asmat Mehmood is innocent. The plane crashed due to overloading.... This means that management and CAA officials are taking measures against him for their face saving.

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M Rafique

Nov 15, 2015 06:50pm

It seems to be an attempt by the govt that NAP is very much activated

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Atif Khan

Nov 15, 2015 07:13pm

Good move. Time for transperency and accountability. A swift punishment will sent a strong message

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UnshacklePakistan

Nov 15, 2015 07:36pm

This abuse of rules. The pilot is at fault, and so is the airline possibly. What makes this an abuse is to use a breach in protocol into a case of "terrorism". The pilot's position can be terminated. This doesn't allow someone to randomly apply terrorism rules against any citizen of Pakistan. People make mistakes and there's a difference between being a terrorist and being negligent and unsuitable as a employee. @UnshacklePak

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Pakistan

Nov 15, 2015 07:48pm

this is not terrorism but negligence. this is how authorities abuse law. pilot will go to sc and will win the case.

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Syed Ganga Din

Nov 15, 2015 07:57pm

Where is terrorism? Under the influence of alcohol, he met an accident.

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M.Malik

Nov 15, 2015 08:36pm

Good. Let him sit in jail for a long time.

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khan

Nov 15, 2015 08:43pm

Pilot booked under ani-terror law..... what a joke

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khanm

Nov 15, 2015 08:46pm

The passengers give their trust in these pilots and see this is what they do. These same pilots are paid very heavily and yet they want more and more. Not to mention, they destroy the planes that they should be handling very carefully. Shaheen airlines might have only few airplanes. Imagine the amount of loss they bring to their very own airline that pays them their salaries and benifits. These people are corrupt in the very same way as our others are. We all have no sense of accountability. I hope this pilot gets the punishment that he deserves so that it could be an example for others as well.

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WAJAHAT

Nov 15, 2015 09:02pm

a case should be pursued against the airline for negligence

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My2paisas

Nov 15, 2015 10:42pm

His fatigue and alcohol level caused the landing gear to malfunction. Very logical.

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Rome cruiser

Nov 15, 2015 11:38pm

It's an abuse of anti-terrorism law. Keep to the spirit of the law and charge him under the relevant law

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Nasir

Nov 16, 2015 12:37am

@mike ....the pilot was operating under the influence of Alcohol as per the tests after the crash. Police in every civilized society would get involved after such revelation.

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sattar rind

Nov 16, 2015 12:47am

good

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Lost Lakha

Nov 16, 2015 12:57am

The Pilot has been arrested, a FIR has been lodged, level of alcohol in his blood system has been ascertained and yet no one is prepared to identify him by name, why?

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Syed

Nov 16, 2015 01:26am

It is possible that the pilot was at fault. It is also possible that the aircraft was defective and to save face and insurance money the airline is using the pilot as a scape goat. We all know how easy it is for powerful people to fake medical reports. So the authorities should examine the aircraft and determine whether the cause of the accident. Perhaps the pilot was really a hero and saved many lives.

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misaq

Nov 16, 2015 02:06am

Don't know why alcohol level is being compared to the US standards. While there is a clear cut policy of CAA of pak.

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Shehz

Nov 16, 2015 03:23am

The landing gear too was defective, Shaheen is responsible for that. Even a sober pilot couldn't have repaired that in air.

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Concerned

Nov 16, 2015 04:01am

@Osman Siddiqi exactly my thought. Please do not dilute the significance of the Anti-terrorism law.

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sid

Nov 16, 2015 04:03am

Both parties blaming each other. Get the black box recorders and let an independent body (outside Pakistan) analyse the data and come to a conclusion. You can't trust the pilots or the airline in this case.

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4ewsk

Nov 16, 2015 04:09am

@misaq its shenaningans

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Rick_james

Nov 16, 2015 04:12am

Finally some sane steps.

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Wise

Nov 16, 2015 06:27am

One another proof that administration doesn't understand what terrorism is.

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Akram J. Kayani

Nov 16, 2015 06:43am

The pilot should be judged with harshly and not let off the hook. But at the same time the rest of the,crew of the flight should also face the music, the CAA or even the airline management can't be expected to check every pilot before a flight, there are spot checks but it is foremost the responsibility of the remaining crew to ensure their colleagues are fully capable to do their job. The co-pilot should have raised an alarm at Karachi airport the moment he saw the condition of his colleagues instead of letting him fly the plain. For not doing that he should also be punished, its a part of his job.

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SAL

Nov 16, 2015 06:57am

@Ahmed Very well said. I agree with you 100%.

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