KARACHI: The scope of inquiry into the overloading of passengers on a Saudi Arabia-bound flight earlier this year has been broadened, which is why it is taking longer than the prescribed time, the Pakistan International Airlines chief said on Thursday.

While responding to queries following a briefing to journalists, the PIA’s acting CEO Nayyar Hayat said the PIA had initially conducted an internal inquiry but the pilot of the aircraft had continued to insist that there were no excess passengers on the plane.

Mr Hayat added that they had decided then to expand the inquiry and gather information from various relevant quarters in order to establish the truth of the matter. This was why the inquiry was taking so long, he said.

Since the pilot did not accept the charge that he had flown passengers in excess of the aircraft configuration, they had to cross-check facts, he said.

The matter was further complicated by the fact that the alleged violation had taken place on an international flight; collecting information from the immigration authorities of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was taking some time.

The PIA chief conceded that Anwer Adil, who had piloted the flight, had been performing flight duties since the incident and was recently grounded as his presence was required in the inquiry proceedings.

He added that Hina Turab, the senior purser on the flight, had been taken off flight duties in March, but has since resumed her duties.

He rejected the allegation that PIA was trying to delay the inquiry in the hope that people would forget about it, and insisted that stern action would be taken against those found guilty. PIA prioritised air safety, insisted Mr Hayat.

On January 20, Flight PK-743 from Karachi to Madina took on seven passengers over the aircraft configuration. The airline had initially kept mum on the scandal but then ordered an inquiry after media highlighted the case.

The inquiry was ordered on March 10 — approximately a month and 20 days after the incident — and its members were supposed to submit their report within 10 days. The report is now overdue, and according to the PIA chief, the inquiry is yet to be completed.

Sources said that the airhostess who had reported the irregularity had been taken off flight duty instantly, while the pilot, who is also in litigation with the management over his educational degree, was grounded a few days ago.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2017