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