Pakistan’s first chief pilot for Emirates dies

Published October 30, 2021
PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Malik meets captain Fazle Ghani in this file photo. — Photo courtesy Twitter
PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Malik meets captain Fazle Ghani in this file photo. — Photo courtesy Twitter

RAWALPINDI: Captain Fazle Ghani, the lead founder pilot of Emirates who was delegated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to set it up, passed away after protracted illness.

PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Malik announced in a tweet: “Pride of Pakistan Aviation Captain Fazle Ghani passed away after prolonged illness.”

Mr Arshad further stated that Captain Ghani had turned down a citizenship offer from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and preferred returning to PIA.

Captain Ghani was present when Emirates A380 flight EK-2524 landed at Islamabad International Airport for a one-off journey in 2018, marking the first time ever that a double-decker aircraft landed in Pakistan.

Among the special guests on the occasion were two Pakistani members of Emirates’ first ever team, Captain Ghani, the airline’s first chief pilot and team lead for inaugural operations, and Captain Ejazul Haq, one of the pilots who operated the first ever Emirates flight from Dubai to Karachi 33 years ago.

Mr Malik, while expressing deep sorrow over the demise of Captain Ghani, said he was a very famous captain of PIA who was first commissioned in 1987 to oversee flight operations for Emirates.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...