GILGIT: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft veered off its path on the runway while landing at Gilgit airport on Saturday, the airline said, adding that no one was injured in the incident.

The flight PK 605, an ATR aircraft, was flying to Gilgit from Islamabad, carrying 54 people including crew members. It was attempting to land at the airport’s runway when it skidded off.

Qurban Ali who was aboard the flight said: “The pilot of the flight started to lose control over the plane [just when it was about to land]. It slid off the runway during landing and veered off towards its right wing.” All the passengers were evacuated from the aircraft by the airport staff immediately, he added.

Both pilots have been grounded

“The return flight to Islamabad took off with the passengers after a delay of three hours as the runway was temporarily closed by the Civil Aviation Authority,” PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar said.

He said that the chief executive of the national airline, Air Marshal Arshad Malik, had taken notice of the incident and ordered an inquiry. “Both pilots have been grounded till the inquiry is complete and cleared by the investigation board,” he stated.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2019