ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday termed the ATR aircraft as “perfectly safe for flying” in hot and cold climatic conditions.
In reference to media reports regarding ATR not being a safe aircraft, a Spokesman PIA said in a press release that ATR is perfectly safe for flying and is useful and economical on short haul flights in both hot and cold weather conditions.
The spokesman said that several of these aircraft are being operated by airlines in India and Europe.
The PIA spokesman said that media reports suggesting that there was some known defect in the aircraft before its last flight are also totally baseless.
“It defies common sense that pilots and engineers would fly an aircraft that does not meet safety standards, and risk their own lives,” the Spokesman added.
An ATR aircraft operating as PIA’s flight PK-661 had crashed near Havellian on Wednesday whereby leaving all 48 people on-board including famous religious scholar Junaid Jamshed and Deputy Commissioner Chitral Osama Warraich dead.
