AirBlue jet down in Islamabad

[Huraiz]

Abbas, if the location of the crash as pointed out by you on the map above is correct, I don't think its possible that the plane went anywhere close to the red zone. That is way off towards the East. It would be extremely bizarre that the plane would veer so far off course all the way to the East because it would first have made a turn to the right, fly towards the red zone and then turn left and head straight for the hills. There are witnesses in F7 who claim to have heard and even seen the plane fly over the area. Based on that those claims, it seems improbable that the plane was coming from the East/Red Zone area. Based on the above map, I think the plane flew straight ahead after leaving the airport and executed a very slow right turn if it ended up at the crash site as shown on the map.

Either way, the only version I'm inclined to believe will be the official version from Airbus and no one else.

But dont forget on other side of Faisal Mosque(west i believe)We've got Air and Navy headquarters,,so does this RED zone starts from Parliament house to all the way to Air headquarters or they have two separate red zones.??

[Moin]

That is what I was also thinking. Abbas has only shown the red zone to the East. Is there another one to the West? So far there is only talk of one red zone so I based my assumption on there being only that.

[Salman Haider]

95 bodies of Margalla plane crash victims identified

ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP): Senate was informed on Friday that 95 bodies have been identified out of total 152 perished in Air Blue plane crash in Margalla Hills on Wednesday.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the House that out of those 95 identified, 78 bodies have been handed over to families and relatives.“Handing over of remaining bodies is in process under laid down Standard Operating Procedure (SOP),” Malik said in response to points raised by members regarding facilitating the bereaved families and securing the belongings of the deceased passengers.

Some members had raised the points claiming insufficient arrangements to accommodate the bereaved families as well as incidences of loot and plunder of belongings at the crash site.
“It was a tragic incident where all 152 passengers died. Out of which 95 bodies have been identified and 78 have been handed over to families,” he stated.

The minister said, under the SOP immediate cordoning of the area was ordered and all the belongings found so far have been placed in the custody of Magistrate. “Once the operation completes, we shall call upon the families and handover the belongings on identification.”
He said during last two days the operation could not be continue on the same pace due to bad weather and heavy rains and it will be completed today (Friday) sometime during the day.
“All resources were deployed for recovery of dead bodies, belongings as well as the Black Box of the plane which is yet to be found,” he added.

Interior Minister said, the Prime Minister has already ordered an inquiry into the incident and the Chairman has been designated. “As soon as we get the inquiry report, the House will be apprised of it.”

“We shall do everything possible and the process of handing over bodies and belongings shall be completed within couple of days,” he added.

To another point, Malik assured all out assistance to flood affectees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Seven helicopters have been made available for rescue of struck up people and other needs of the displaced persons shall also be met.”

[Salman Haider]

PM directs completion of air crash recovery operation

ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Friday has directed the Interior Minister that recovery operation after the tragic air crash be completed urgently. He asked that the process of handing over of dead bodies and their belongings to the families be expedited. All possible support and assistance, he urged, should be provided to the families of the deceased.

The Prime Minister was talking to Minister for Interior Rehman Malik who called on him at the Prime Minister Secretariat to brief on the latest situation in connection with the recovery of dead bodies and belongings of the passengers of the ill-fated flight.

Interior Minister apprised the Prime Minister of the rescue measures taken soon after the crash. He stated that most of the bodies and belongings of the deceased have been handed over to the bereaved families.

Rest of the bodies, he added, will be handed over to the bereaved families soon after DNA test identification.

[umar744]

Can you see PIA Kabul 737 diverted to Lahore from Kabul instead of Islamabad due to "BAD WEATHER"

I got copy of see here is

According to report published in July 30 edition of English daily 'DAWN', the PIA Boeing 737 did not make emergency landing in Lahore. It was diverted to Lahore due to bad weather in Islamabad.

One news report claims the windscreen was cracked but a news report published in July 30 edition of English daily 'The News' says that some scratches were found on the windscreen of the aircraft at Lahore Airport and these were to be cleared before aircraft's next flight.

Bird strikes, malfunctioning or incorrectly set internal heating system are given as two main reasons for aircraft getting their windshield cracked.

Anyway, I think cracked and scratched windshield does not pose serious threat to safety of a flying aircraft and it can land safely.

Abbas

AirBlue A321 and all pilot and ATC right NO wrong NO problem there NOTHING DO wrong with AirBlue, A321, pilot and ATC.

IT ONLY "BAD WEATHER"

YES or NO have you see any full cloud, any rain, any wind in Islamabad last Wednesday 28 July 2010.

My flight was delayed to Lahore and Bangkok by BAD weather YES YES YES

It NOT one AirBlue. It many lots of major other many airline got BIG problem delay diverted and stranded many airport during bad weather.

ATC and AirBlue and Captain and First officer and Weather control officer and Govt and Radar and Police DID NOT know problem weather condition in ISLAMABAD and it HAPPEN and UNLUCK accident crashed into hill too late.

[umar744]

PIA many times problem to Islamabad DIVERTED to Karachi and Lahore for the past 40 years due to bad weather SAME like British Airways, Emirates, etc many times DIVERTED to Karachi and Delhi and Lahore and Dubai due to bad weather in Islamabad many years many times

Better me I and you ask AN First officer Arooshi Naqvi and MD Capt.Aijaz Haroon to tell you about what happen abort & avoid land ISB then what next? if bad weather in ISB then what do and what happen?

I have been 30 times delayed and 12 times diverted my travelled to Islamabad. FIVE SERIOUS worst details
1)From LHR London Heathrow AP-AYW my late uncle Capt.Nasir 747 PIA with my dad and me in jumpseat cockpit to Islamabad. Capt.Nasir tried attempted to land but overshot to TURN LEFT round to Runway 30 then aborted land and took off and three time Turn left round then flew to Karachi ATC reported Karachi airport closed then Diverted to Dubai and all crew and pax and we stayed Hotel Interconteional next day flew to Islamabad.
2)March 1977 I was 8 years old flew BA Super VC10 G-ASGC (now Duxford museum UK)from LHR Heathrow to Amman Jordan to RWP (now ISB)Rawalpindi and BA captain tried to round 5,000feet unable to land then diverted to Lahore and My father favour BA allowed me got off Lahore airport because my parents house in Lahore. BA Captain Leo Butt famous BA Concorde SIGNED my Flight Log book.
3)Dec 1995 Capt.Asif and FO Mamsa (died PEW hotel)and me flew from LHE to ISB tried to land but round hold 1 hour then back to LHE got big problem fog then Diverted to DELHI to refuel 1 hour then flew to Karachi and I stayed Capt.Asif rent house then I bought ticket KHI LHE when I refused fly without Capt.Asif to ISB.
4)28 July 1982 same like 28 July 2010 I flew BA TriStar 500 from LHR to Amman to ISB. Captain BA invited me to jump seat for landing ISB but several turblance and strong crosswind then cabin crew took me from cockpit to sat First Class seat for serious emergency after abort land Runway 30 then BA diverted to Dubai and we stayed Dubai 2 days then flew back to ISB
5)my flight PIA A310 from BKK to ISB to LHE May 2005 I was in jumpseat shocked overshot abort land Runway 30 then Captain very shocked loud angry to full throttle engine copilot and captain both pullup and my hand deaf sign language TOLD captain and copilot "TURN LEFT" watch HILL mountain we near crash near hit mountain hill but A310 engine very good POWER JET UP then diverted to LHE then Captain and first officer TOLD me to DO NOT tell anyone any everyone about it happen. I cannot say their name otherwise they will KILL me and get troublemake and worst problem but now I reported story BECAUSE of Captain and First officer LEFT PIA for other airline no problem. YES very DANGEROUS in Islamabad TRUE. Long time ago PIA Fokker F27 crashed in ISB.

[Salman Haider]

Plane crash; rescue operation concluded

ISLAMABAD, July 30(APP): The rescue teams of various organizations involved in hectic rescue and search operation at the site since the sad incident of plane crash, have concluded their operation on the third day on Friday whereas a team of French plane manufacturing company will continue to find out the causes of the tragedy.

Members of Rescue 1122, Civil Aviation, Air Blue, CDA, Air Force and CDA workers jointly made their last efforts since early morning on Friday to search out the bodies of passengers and various important parts of plane for investigation reasons.

“We have finished the rescue operation because the all related work has completed” said a Rescue member Dr. Rizwan Nasim while talking to APP at the spot of plane crashed at Margalla Hills.

He further added that the 5 member team of plane manufacturing company from France has arrived which will continue to find out the cause of plane crash. Civil Aviation and Air Force workers are assisting them to complete the mission.

A female member of Rescue 1122 Deeba Shehnaz, while talking to APP, termed it a difficult operation and said there is no gender discrimination in our training. She concluded that plane crash was very painful but thank to God we have done our job with our full responsibility.

[Abbas Ali]

I have a few years old video made from a PIA Fokker F-27 operating flight from Islamabad to Gilgit and in that video Faisal Mosque is viewed from aircraft's left side as it moves forward to fly over Margalla Hills. I've added location of Faisal Mosque in following image.

So, I think the point (if it's correctly shown in following image) where AirBlue A321 crashed into Margalla Hills was not a 'no fly zone'.



Here's related info on Flight Global website:

Details emerge about fatal flight path of Pakistani Airblue A321

By Leithen Francis

The Airblue passenger aircraft that crashed yesterday in Pakistan was doing a circling approach to runway 12 at Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport because it was prevented from landing at runway 30 due to adverse winds.

"The aircraft was on an ILS (instrument landing system) approach to runway 30 from the southeast and then broke off due to adverse winds and started to do a circling visual approach for runway 12 from the northwest side," Airblue CEO, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, says in an email to ATI.

"The crash site is actually north/northeast of the airport on an extended downward wind," he adds.

The crash site is in the Margalla mountains and satellite images show the crash site is 9.66nm from the airport.

Air traffic control prevented the aircraft from landing on runway 30 because the aircraft would have encountered a tail-wind if it tried to land on that runway, says a Karachi-based official, who wishes to remain anonymous. The official works in the Pakistan CAA's air traffic control management division.

The official also says aircraft doing a circling approach into Islamabad airport are required to stay within 5nm of the airport. The fact that the crash site is more than 5nm away means the aircraft was in a no-fly zone, he adds.



Source: www.flightglobal.com

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to various news reports:

* Flight ED-202 commander Capt. Pervez Iqbal Chaudhry had over 25,000 flight hours experience.

* Capt. Pervez Iqbal Chaudhry was given rest of 36 hours before ill-fated flight ED-202 of July 28, 2010, according to statement of AirBlue Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi quoted by PTV news July 30's 9:00PM bulletin.

* Capt. Pervez Iqbal Chaudhry was 61 years old. Maximum age for the pilot is 65 years set by CAA Pakistan.

* First Officer Muntajib was 34 years old. He was former PAF F-16 fighter pilot.

* Crash investigation findings should be released to public, according to statement of Airblue CEO, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi quoted by local news channel.

* Pakistan CAA cannot make crash investigation report public, statement by DG CAA quoted by a local news channel.

* Three aircraft (including ill-fated AirBlue aircraft ?) were in line to land when AirBlue accident occured. Aircraft of PIA and Shaheen Air were the two aircraft behind ill-fated AirBlue flight, according to some news sources. Whether those aircraft of PIA and Shaheen Air landed at Islamabad Airport after AirBlue accident is not clarified by news reports.

Abbas

[umar744]

Please tell me about Capt. Pervaiz Iqbal Chaudhry

1)What month year did he leave PIA?

2)What month month year did he join fly AirBlue?

3)How many hours and how many flight times did he fly AirBlue?

4)Where his grave tomb funeral and where what full address & telephone number of his house in Karachi because my friend Qamar need to pray him because Qamar is real cousin of Capt.Pervaiz Iqbal Chaudhry. Qamar know only his address is 56-W, Phase III, Defence, Lahore Cantt.

5)How many captain and first officer in AirBlue?

6)what number of senior pilot Capt.Pervaiz Iqbal Chaudhry?

Please let me know and please reply asap

[Moin]

Umar if Capt Chaudhry was such an old friend of yours, you should know all those details about him.

[hasan saleem]

Capt. Pervaiz Iqbal Chaudhry was living in Karachi, He used to live at Karsaz, Royal Apartments.

[newflyer]

@ Abbas

I second your suggestion that a memorial be erected at the crash site. Isn't there a memorial site in Cairo where a PIA plane crashed in 1965?

http://pakistaniat.com/2008/07/23/momi- ... ce-of-pia/

[Abbas Ali]

^ There's also memorial built for victims of PIA Airbus A300B4-203 (AP-BCP) flight PK-268 which crashed into a hill during landing at Kathmandu Airport, Nepal, on September 28, 1992. The memorial is named 'Lele Memorial Park'. It's built at the foot of hill where AP-BCP crashed.

4)Where his grave tomb funeral and where what full address & telephone number of his house in Karachi because my friend Qamar need to pray him because Qamar is real cousin of Capt.Pervaiz Iqbal Chaudhry.

There was news report about arrival of bodies of AirBlue First Officer Muntajib and Flight Attendent Nahid Bhatti at Karachi Airport on July 29. Body of Capt. Iqbal Chaudhry could be among those still to be located or to be indentified through DNA tests.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to latest reports:

* Upon its recovery, the ill-fated aircraft's black box will be sent to USA for decoding.

* Airbus will assist crash investigation team.

AirBlue rules out technical problem in plane crash

Friday, July 30, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive of Air Blue Airline Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that the bodies of 102 passengers, killed in the Wednesday’s plane crash in Margalla Hills, have been handed over to their heirs, while samples for DNA tests of 62 individuals have been sent to the laboratory.

Talking to media-persons here on Friday he said that the airline would pay insurance money to heirs of the plane crash victims, for which registration has begun.

He asked the relatives of victims to get themselves registered with the airline through internet or report to the nearest Air Blue office.

Abbasi said that search for the black box of the plane was underway. "At the time of the crash, the plane was flying at a height of 1000 feet. The black box has not yet been found because the wreckage spread far and wide", he said.

He said that six personnel of Air Blue were also members of the investigation team tasked to find the causes of the incident, adding "We want to make public the details of the investigative report."

Brushing aside the rumours that the pilot of the airliner was suffering from fatigue, he said the pilot had rested for 36 hours before the flight.

He said Pervaiz Iqbal Chaudhry, the pilot of the ill-fated plane was a seasoned pilot, who had 25000 hours experience to hi credit.

The chief executive said that the pilot was 61- year- old, while the standard at the international level is 65 years.

Abbasi said that Flying Officer Mujttahid Chughtai was 34-year- old and he had served in Pakistan Air Force as a F-16 jetfighter pilot. He had 1700 hours experience including the 300 hours in the crashed plane.

He did not agree that there was any technical problem that resulted in airliner's crash and added there was also no report of any terrorist act. Even, the Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik hadalready ruled out the possibility of any act of terrorism, he said.

To a question he said that rules and laws of the Civil Aviation Authority were very strict and it was evident from the six years' record of Air Blue that it strictly followed those rules and never committed a violation.

He claimed that the Air Blue was the first airline in Pakistan, which started issuing boarding cards to passengers after checking their ID Cards.

Source:The News

A French team, probably sent by Airbus, has also joined investigation team.

The French team members can be seen in following video still.



French team joins CAA in plane crash investigation

ISLAMABAD, Jul 30 (APP): A five-member French team has reached here and joined forces with experts of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to determine causes of plane crash in Margallah hills.The CAA spokesman Pervez George informed this news agency that the experts, who arrived here on Thursday, would assist the six-member team of the Authority in conducting inquiry into the air crash.A commercial airliner, carrying 152 people, including six crew members, crashed into the wooded Margallah Hills on Wednesday, leaving no survivor in what is the second deadliest aviation disaster in the country’s history.

The plane of Air Blue enroute from Karachi to Islamabad, was attempting to land in the wake of thiick blacket of clouds and lashing rainfall when it lost contact with air traffic control before crashing in the Hills fringing Islamabad.

The spokesman said the authority is probing the incident on special directives of the Ministry of Defence with the task to find out causes of the plane crash.

He said the joint inquiry team headed by President Safety Investigation Board of CAA, Air Commodore Khawaja Abdul Majeed, would also focus on searching the black box.

Investigators are now focusing on the aircraft’s black box, hoping the flight data recorder will provide valuable clues to the fate of the 10-year-old Airbus 321,piloted by an experienced captain.

Islamabad administration official Malik Oliya said French experts in collaboration with CAA were examining the crash site to investigate the causes of the crash, adding “They are searching for the black box and other clues.”

Source: APP