WITHOUT an independent team of investigators, trained and qualified according to international standards, and the agency reporting directly to the chief executive of the country or parliament, the full and true causes of accidents will never be known by the affected families and the public.

With regard to the PK661 accident, as is the case with all previous cases, after a long wait, a watered down, inconclusive muddled report will come out without any major liability fixed on the operator or the Regulator for any lapse in mechanical negligence or regulatory oversight.

Notwithstanding the sufferings of the affected families, the relevant stakeholders of the aviation industry will breathe a sigh of relief at yet another cover up.

With the liability not clear and fully established, the insurance companies would only be liable for the basic mandatory compensation. They will have saved huge sums in extra compensation in heavy individual lawsuits if the manufacturer, the operator and regulator are absolved of any acts of omission or commission.

The establishment of an independent accident investigation agency, on the lines of those in developed countries is necessary sooner than later.

Khizar Naqvi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2017