PIA pilot issued notice for violating rules

E-Paper | July 28, 2026

KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a notice to the Pakistan International Airlines’ flight operations chief for operating an aircraft without taking the mandatory rest, compromising air safety, putting passengers’ lives in danger and violating safety laws, it is learnt.

According to sources, the CAA’s acting Flight Standards Director Arif Majeed issued the notice to chief flight operations Uzair Khan for operating the flight without taking the prescribed rest from Toronto to Lahore last month.

The notice, issued on June 2, says: “You, Mohammad Uzair Muhib Khan (ATPL 949) did not avail minimum rest before operating flight on May 26, 2017 in violation of Rule 220 (2) and 240 of the Civil Aviation Rules 1994 and ANO 91.0012 issue 5 of April 7, 2011, relating to flight time, flight duty period, and rest period, for fatigue management.”

When contacted by Dawn, Uzair Khan conceded that he had not taken the mandatory rest owing to domestic issues. Regarding taking the money not due to him also, he said that he would get it adjusted in his salary next month.

PIA spokesperson Mashhood Tajwar claimed that no law had been violated by the pilot.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2017

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Hussain

Jun 13, 2017 09:13am

This is not a rare example. PIA pilots and lot more from middle management staff consider themselves above the most people. The true face a destroyed society. The history is full of such incidents. The only solution is to get a tough and non-compromising CEO, revisit the regulations to the world's best and toughest regulatory regime, reduce excessive staff and for smallest breach, including courtesy with customers sack them instantly. Today Turkish airline is among the biggest in the world, flies to the largest destination (cities) on earth, why, very strict regulations. May a captain, or cleaner of the plane same rule. Smallest violation, boot on the back to throw on the streets.Unfortunately, top men of Pakistan are corrupt and that filters to the bottom. God save Pakistan.

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SAM

Jun 13, 2017 09:21am

Wa Wa PIA

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Indian

Jun 13, 2017 11:43am

I don't know why people still fly with PIA. No logic!

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Fahad Ur Rehman

Jun 15, 2017 05:12pm

Captain Uzair was instrumental in saving the lives of 33 passengers during the Hijacking of PK544 in 1998. Before you start to pass your self-righteous judgement, you need to be aware that pilots errors occur occasionally even in the most reputed airlines. For example, FlyDubai has also dealt with cases of inadequate rest and recently an Emirates aircraft was damaged beyond repair during landing, owing to a pilot error. Furthermore, Captain Uzair's violation may have been minor. He did take rest, but it might have been a few hours short. This should not be considered as a huge hazard to air safety. However, it is still an error and penalization is not entirely implausible. But please DO NOT pass judgements on his character or skill when you know nothing of it.

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