Pakistan decides to ground Fokker planes after crash
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, July 12, IRNA
Pakistan-Planes-Grounded
Pakistani cabinet has decided to immediately ground all Fokker planes after a recent plane crash, killing all 45 people on board, information minister said on Wednesday.
A twin-engine Fokker aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines crashed on a domestic flight on Monday soon after take-off from the central city of Multan and burst into flames.
The cabinet in its meeting decided to ground all Fokker planes, Muhammad Ali Durrani told a news conference to brief journalists about the cabinet decisions.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz chaired the meeting.
Durrani said that all Fokker planes in the PIA fleet will now be used for cargo service.
Pakistan has only six Fokker planes at its fleet.
Durrani said that the plane which crashed in Multan was fit for flight and there was no technical problem.
The minster said C-130 planes will be used on routes to Northern Areas and other steps would be taken for routes being used by Fokker planes.
The plane crashed in Multan was believed to be 40-year old.
The crash has raised concerns over the safety of Fokker planes and opposition leaders had demanded that all Fokker planes must be grounded.
It is still not clear what caused the Monday crash, but eyewitness reports suggested it may have been a technical fault.
Eyewitnesses say the aircraft hit an electric power line before crashing in a field.
Last year, opposition lawmakers raised in parliament the issue of country's ageing fleet of Fokker aircraft.
Some politicians said the planes should be grounded because they had flown far more than the recommended flight hours.
At the time, Defense Ministry officials said they were fit for flying.
2020/235/2322/1412
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