A passenger plane crash that killed 97 people in the port city of Pakistan last month was a result of “human error,” according to the initial investigation into the disaster.
There was nothing wrong with the crashed aircraft, an Airbus A320, but the pilot, the co-pilot, and air traffic control failed to follow protocol, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said on June 24 as he presented preliminary findings in parliament
Only two passengers survived when the Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) jet went down in a residential area on May 22 after trying to land at the city's Jinnah International Airport.
Khan said the pilot failed to deploy the landing gear correctly, which led to the plane scraping the runway before taking off again.
As the plane was about to make a second landing, air traffic control told the pilot three times the aircraft was too low to land but he refused to listen, saying he would manage, the minister said.
He also said that air traffic controllers failed to inform the pilot that the engines had been left badly damaged.
Khan said that the pilots were also distracted during the flight while talking about the coronavirus pandemic.
A full investigation report is expected in one year’s time.
Human Error Blamed For Pakistan Passenger Plane Crash
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Why Does Trump Want Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base Returned To US Control?
2Trump Threatens Afghanistan If Bagram Base Not Handed Back To US
3Afghan Women, Girls 'Bear Brunt' Of Earthquake Amid Taliban Restrictions
4Taliban's Internet Ban Threatens Afghan Women's Livelihoods And Education
5Afghan Woman Who Lost All Male Relatives In Earthquake Faces New Barriers
6Afghan Taliban Claims Prisoner Exchange With US Is Imminent
7Afghanistan In Massive Internet Shutdown Amid Taliban 'Morality' Crackdown
8Afghanistan Goes Dark As Taliban Imposes Nationwide Communications Blackout
9Trump Says US Is Seeking To 'Get Back' Bagram Base Amid Taliban Rule
10Afghan Children In Pakistan Fear Taliban Schools If Forced Home
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.