The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) rejected claims circulating in the media that its fleet of aircraft is faulty.
“It defies common sense that pilots and engineers would fly an aircraft that does not meet safety standards, and risk their own lives,” the statement issued on Friday read, referring to speculation on mainstream media as well as social media that the national carrier was operating with fault aircraft.
PIA Spokesman Danyal Gillani clarified that the ATR is perfectly safe for flying. “It is useful and economical on short haul flights in both hot and cold weather conditions,” he said.
A PIA flight PK-661 carrying 48 passengers and crew crashed on the way to Islamabad from Chitral on Wednesday. The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed there were no survivors from the ill-fated flight.
Popular singer-turned-preacher Junaid Jamshed also perished in the crash along with his wife.