PIA ATR Engine Catches Fire On Tarmac

[Usman 747]

Geo News Reporting that PIA ATR(unknown 42 or 72) Engine caught fire in Multan on Tarmac.

[Abbas Ali]

According to various news channels:

Flight PK-581 to Karachi with 48 persons on board.

All crew members & passengers safely disembarked the aircraft.

Engine caught fire during ignition/startup. Fire extinguished by CAA fire tenders.

The ATR has been grounded for inspections.

Abbas

[shj]

ATR 72 AP-BKY being reported

[Abbas Ali]

News reports of ATR engine catching fire at Multan Airport dismissed as baseless by PIA spokesperson, according to DAWN News channel.

Passengers disembarked after the aircraft developed some technical fault during pushback. The aircraft will depart from Multan after removal of the fault.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

News channels reporting left engine (engine number 1) experienced some problem and showed an ATR parked at Multan Airport with a CAA fire tender positioned close to it. But I think it does not necessarily mean that the fire tender was used.


The ATR 72-500 at Multan Airport.


A CAA fire tender near port side/engine number 1 of the aircraft.

Abbas

[yyzflyer]

If I were a passenger i'd rather get a refund and travel by bus or car.
This is very alarming that so many engine issues are coming up for ATRs.

PIA needs to fix itself or face shutdown if this continues. They'd better check the 777s and A320s too.

[Abbas Ali]

According tp PIA spokesperson statement on news channels:

* Reports of PIA ATR engine catching fire are untrue. The crew did not receive any such warning in the cockpit.

* The flight's departure is delayed due to technical fault. The air traffic control advised against the departure of flight.

* As a precautionary measure, CAA fire tender was brought closer to the aircraft.

* The aircraft has been grounded on the orders of the Chief Operating Officer.

* A PIA Engineering team from Karachi will arrive in Multan to inspect the aircraft.

* The aircraft will become operational after inspections.

* Passengers have been shift to airport lounge from the aircraft.

* PIA is arranging hotel accomodation for passengers till the availability of next flight.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to Pakistan CAA spokesperson statement:

* The fire caught by PIA aircraft engine has been extinguished.

* PK-581 passengers will be sent to Karachi on another aircraft.

Abbas

[saadm80]

If there was a Fire, Picture just shows Fire Tender on Port Side, I don't see any other thing too identify that there was actually a Fire on Start-up...
But Yes, PIA Should Call PW Rep & get the Engines inspected, PIA Engineering is capable & very well qualified to rectify Engine or Avionics Snags...
I Don't see a Reason that 777s & 320s be grounded, coming down to speculations is what our media has been doing it since 7th dec early evening..

[Abbas Ali]

Inspection of engine number 1 of the ATR at Multan Airport photographed from aircraft cabin.

Abbas

[umar744]

ATR72 AP-BKY

[Abbas Ali]

According to news sources, an Airbus A320 of PIA has arrived in Multan from Karachi to transport stranded passengers of flight PK-581. The A320 will depart from Multan for flight to Karachi via Sukkur from where passengers of another PIA flight will be airlifted.

Probably it's PIA Airbus A320-216 registration AP-BLY that landed at Multan Airport at 1:52 PM as flight PK-330 from Karachi.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-blz

Meanwhile, a six-member team of PIA Engineering also has arrived to inspect PIA ATR 72-500 that experienced technical problem at Multan Airport before departure as flight PK-581 to Karachi. The six-member team includes three engineers and three techncians.

PIA may seek special permission from CAA for ferry flight of the ATR from Multan to Karachi where the aircraft will undergo thorough inspection at airline's maintenance base.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Airbus A320 (AP-BLZ) departed from Multan as flight PK-331 to Karachi via Suukur with passengers of flight PK-581.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-blz

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Replacement of an engine surge bleed valve was required by the ATR during its inspection at Multan Airport by PIA Engineering on December 12, according to news reports.

Abbas