Pakistan International Airlines Thursday (today) announced a compensation of Rs0.5 million for the heirs of the 48 victims of the PK-661 crash.
The PIA flight crashed into a hillside after one of its two turboprop engines failed while travelling from the city of Chitral to the capital, and burst into flames killing everyone on board.
“On the directions of chairman and CEO PIA an amount of Rs500,000 cash is being given to the next of kin of all 47 persons who lost their lives in the tragic ATR crash, to meet funeral expenses,” a PIA press release stated.
“District managers have been directed to personally visit the residences of the deceased and hand over the amount in cash. This will be followed by a comprehensive compensation package as per law,” it added.
‘Families of all the victims will be paid financial compensation according to the law,’ the PIA chairman said.
Read more: Dead from PK-661 air disaster to be identified by DNA
-PIA CHAIRMAN RULES OUT TECHNICAL ERROR-
PIA Chairman Azam Saigol has categorically rubbished the rumours regarding the possibility of any technical or human error behind the PK-661 plane crash.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday he announced the death of all 48 on board adding that engine failure could be the reason behind the crash.
‘I want to make it clear that it was a perfectly sound aircraft,” Saigol said, ruling out the technical or human error. The aircraft appeared to have suffered a failure in one of its two turboprop engines just before the crash but this would have to be confirmed by an investigation.
‘Around 4:15pm the ATC received an emergency call from the pilot who informed them about the engine failure. A few minutes later, a mayday distress call was received from the pilot,’ he added.
‘Technically, the 2007-built aircraft had received its certification in October from the CAA’s technical team. It was one of the 11 ATRs the CAA has. The aircraft was perfect from all aspects and was reliable to fly as no technical fault was detected during its technical examination which was carried out 60 days back,’ he said.
The Chairman also expressed that the pilot Mansoor Janjua was an experienced pilot with 12000 hours of flying experience under his belt.
PIA flight PK-661 took off from Chitral at 3:40pm on Wednesday and crashed near Havelian at 4:16pm, killing all 48 persons on board including five of crew members. Famous Islamic scholar Junaid Jamshed was also among the passengers.
Read more: Data of PIA flight PK-661 released