KARACHI: The discussion on Seat 1C, A Survivor’s Tale of Hope, Resilience and Renewal, authored by Zafar Masud, one of the two survivors of the May 22, 2020 PIA plane crash, at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) on Monday turned out to be a packed affair, with no place to sit, even on the floor.

In a candid conversation with IBA’s Executive Director Dr S. Akbar Zaidi, Mr Masud opened up his heart for all to see, like he has done in his book for all to read.

He is not just the dynamic CEO and president of The Bank of Punjab (BOP). He’s also a sensitive and deeply spiritual human being, grateful to have been given a second life by the Almighty, which he wants to use for doing good.

“I’m not the chosen one, I’m privileged,” he said with humility. “It should be the ultimate objective of the privileged to bring about a positive change in society.”

Plane crash survivor Zafar Masud opens up about his near-death experience

Remembering the occurrences of the fateful day, he said that being an objective person, he never thought that they would crash though he did notice the unusual reactions of a steward seated next to him and the airhostesses seated on the side and front.

“The airhostesses were crying,” he said. “And just before we crashed there was the cockpit door that sprung open and suddenly I had a view of the aircraft’s windshield. That was when I also realised that we were going to crash,” he added.

He spoke about what went through his mind at that moment. “From my childhood in Lahore until that time, my entire life passed before my eyes. And within those 30 seconds or so I was doing my own accountability. I realised that I had no regrets in life. So I said to God that it was okay and that I was all set to meet Him. But that’s also when I heard Him tell me that it was all going to be alright and that I will be okay. Only my God knows why he saved me,” he said.

“There is also accountability, which takes place in the life after death. God does that accountability. We should not wait for that time and do our own accountability now while we are alive and kicking,” he said. “And that is the gist of my book, my reactions and learning in those 30 life-changing seconds,” he said.

He said that after surviving from the crash, while he was recuperating in hospital, he was visited by over 600 clerics who wanted to know what he was reciting before the crash which saved him. “I told them that I follow no rituals. Perhaps my parents’ goodness and piousness saved me. I have the closest association with my parents,” he said.

Mr Masud said that he had fainted at the time of the actual impact and could not attempt an escape. But when the plane broke apart, a fissure formed near his seat, 1C, thrusting it outwards and away from the burning wreckage. Eyewitnesses have told him that his seat fell on a third floor rooftop instead of the road. From there it slid off and fell down to land on the bonnet of a car, instead of landing on the hard asphalt of the road below, further breaking his fall. And by then the plane itself had crashed into the end of the street.

He also said that when he regained some consciousness and was crying for help, he was helped by complete strangers who had no ulterior motive. “They didn’t know that they were helping the president of The Bank of Punjab. They helped me only out of the goodness of their heart. And this is what matters in life,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Zaidi said that he had also met one of the survivors of the 1965 Cairo air crash, Shaukat Mecklai, and soon after the 2020 Flight PK-8303 crash, he was also fortunate to meet Mr Masud, about whom he was also proud to disclose, is an IBA alumnus.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025