Two flights diverted from Peshawar Airport to Benazir International Airport in Islamabad and Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore in wake of Tuesday’s attack
PESHAWAR-
The Emirates airline has officially suspended its flight operations to and from Peshawar in the wake of Tuesday’s attack on the city’s Bacha Khan International Airport.
The airline’s spokesperson said the decision was made keeping in mind the safety of passengers and Emirates staff.
“Emirates has suspended flights to and from Peshawar effective 25 June 2014 until further notice, due to the security situation at the destination. Affected passengers will be rebooked on alternative Emirates’ flights and are asked to check on emirates.com for further updates. We apologise for the inconvenience caused – however, the safety of our passengers and crew is a top priority and will not be compromised,” the statement said.
Two flights were diverted from the Peshawar Airport to Benazir International Airport in Islamabad and Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore in the wake of Tuesday’s attack, according to a spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Earlier in the morning, a Shaheen Airlines flight had landed at the Bacha Khan International Airport, resuming flight operations after the attack last night.
CAA confirmed that an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi would be landing in Islamabad while a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight No PK895 coming from Kuala Lumpur would be landing at Lahore airport.
Sources in the CAA said that the flights were diverted due to security reasons and routine operations would continue after clearance. They also said that security measures were enhanced around the airport whereas additional security was also deployed to avert any untoward incident.
CAA spokesman Abid Ali Qaim Khani said that the Etihad Airways flight was not diverted but that the Rawalpindi and Peshawar flights had been combined due to low traffic and it would make its landing in Islamabad. He also added that the CAA has requested enhanced security at the Peshawar Airport in the wake of last night’s attack.
Meanwhile, routine security has already been beefed up.
Due to its geographical location, security at the Peshawar airport is always tricky as the landing route starts from the tribal areas of Bara and Darra Adamkhel which are fragile for security. Peshawar Airport is surrounded by residential areas, including the slums of Nawai Kalley, Badbher and the rural-urban mix population of Ring Road villages on one side.
A four-five kilometre road running along the landing strip of the airport is not properly guarded. The eastern strip runs along the main Bara road, residential houses and shops.
It provides a complete overview of the airport, including the military and the passenger aircraft parked on the strips, whereas hangers are also visible to the residents there.
Security analysts have already described these areas surrounding the airport as a potential launching pad for attacks especially after the December 2012 assault on the airport.
The talking off strip is toward the northern side, which ends at the main University Road near Tambwan Chowk but the slums of Tehkal starts from the main road which have often been used by the miscreants to fire rockets at the airport in the past.
