ISLAMABAD: Airblue claimed on Saturday that 104 families of the victims of the tragic crash of its Flight ED200 crashed in the Margalla hills on July 28, 2010 had been paid compensation, while the claims of 31 others were being processed.

The Airblue Flight,which had taken off from Karachi 10 minutes to eight in the morning, crashed into Islamabad’s Margalla hills, killing all 152 people on board.

On the second anniversary of the tragic crash of Airblue flight into Margalla Hills, seven families of the victims have yet to file documents while 10 cases are pending due to litigation, said Raheel Ahmed, Airblue Director (Commercial) while talking to media persons here on Saturday.

Ahmed said that an Airblue employee had been dedicated to the family of each victim and the company staff had worked with full diligence to provide all possible assistance to the families. “These employees will remain available to assist the families in future.”

He said that Airblue had been ensuring that the investigation report into the crash was completed in record time by providing material and financial assistance at each phase of the investigation.

“It was also ensured that the investigation report was made public, the first time that this has happened in Pakistan's aviation history.

Airblue fully supported and assisted the legislative effort in parliament to pass legislation, increasing the compensation payable for air accidents to Rs 5 million,” he added.

Airblue has also constructed an engraved memorial wall in Margalla Hills in remembrance of the victims.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Apr 25 had released the investigation report of the plane crash.

The data recorded in the black box revealed the conversation of the plane’s Captain with the First Officer and with the control tower.

According to the CAA’s report, the Captain, Pervez Iqbal Chaudhry, ignored the air traffic controller’s suggestions several times and told the First Officer (FO) in the cockpit: “let him say whatever he wants to say.”

The report concluded that: “Air blue crash has been finalised as a case of Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT),in which aircrew failed to display superior judgment and professional skills in a self-created unsafe environment. In their pursuit to land in inclement weather, they committed serious violations of procedures and breaches of flying discipline, which put the aircraft in an unsafe condition over dangerous terrain at low altitude.”