An Air Blue passenger plane carrying 152 people crashed in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills on Wednesday morning. Although rescue teams have been dispatched to the site of the crash, due to the hilly terrain, teams travelling by road are having difficulty reaching the area.
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It is truly sad to see and hear this tragedy. May God help the families of the deceased and give them the courage to bear this imperable loss. May the souls rest in peace
At least 10 victims were my neighbors of Old Golimar Karachi they were going to attend funeral ceremony.
Really sad news, May Allah grant the departed souls a place in Jannah.
Shocking… shocking indeed!
I am a frequent flyer and travel with various airlines. Recently, I flew from Dubai to Islamabad and back on AirBlue with my family.
I do not mean to sensationalise the situation and neither am I an expert on this, but what clearly concerned me at the time of take-off both times was unusually and uncomfortably loud engine noise as if the plane needs extra power to lift – I haven’t heard this kind of engine noise on any other plane. My first reaction was to look at the flight attendants’ expressions and they seemed normal… Strange!
What further concerned me both times was the landing part. What seems to be a regular practice (and unique to this airline) is the plane feeling almost like gliding with a noticeable uncomfortable change in cabin pressure. Whether it is intentional to save on fuel or something else, but I found it unusually uncomfortable compared to the other airlines when landing. My fear (and I pray for it to be incorrect) is if the engine power is set to the minimum when “gliding” down and then you suddenly have to regain altitude or abort landing when you’re very close to the ground for some reason, then the pilots are left with a very limited reaction time.
Could this have been a reason for this crash, adding to the effects of the bad weather?
We had decided immediately after our last flight on 18th July that we won’t fly with AirBlue again… it’s now confirmed! Unfortunately our national flag carrier is even worse!
Our prayers go out to all the families affected with this tragedy. May all departed rest in peace.
Another concerned overseas Pakistani
I am not sure about Air Blue’s loud engine noise during landings and take offs. What I find unexplained, is the fact that the aircraft apparently did not maintain the glide slope – a guidance mechanism during the final approach, which tells deviation from required altitude. For Islamabad, the minimum height that pilots must maintain is reportedly 1000ft before they clearly see the runway. Engines are set to minimum before the final approach, but during the finals, pilots keep adjusting engine power to maintain the glideslope – and in this case, the aircraft should have maintained at least 1000ft. I dont understand why had the aircraft come down below this height. It is highly unlikely that the systems failed – last minute conversations with tower say all was well – and the pilot was supposedly skillful, and avoided risks. Also, how the aircraft drifted far into an area now being referred to as a “no-go zone” is a question; for the control tower generally has information about the altitude and location of the aircraft, and issues warning on deviations.
This is somewhat of a Kathmandu type accident where the aircraft had descended below the specified altitude – even though the pilot was warned “flying below the required altitude”.
This is very sad. May Allah have mercy on the souls and their families.
Kathmandu Airport cannot be compared with Islamabad Airport. Kathmandu air strip lies between high mountains, over seven thousand feet high. At Kathmandu the airliner has no other choice, they have to fly over mountains and then descend immidiately. I would say Sakardu Airport is more like Kathmandu. Islamabad Airport’s location is somewhat different. Most of areas around airport are wide open, Margala Hills are far away and not vey high, (as compared to Kathmandu). While landing at Islamabad, the pilot has to be more observant of sentivity of the area, than flying over hills.
Although I have not been a frequent AirBlue passanger but I took the Airblue flight enroute Karachi-Isalamabad-Karachi. almost two days back so the news struck me as devastating. But the experince was more or less nice. Crew members were quite mannered.
Unlike many others among my relatives who believed that the airline has rather small aircraft i have been of the opinion that if compared to local European flying jets they are comparitively bigger also serving food without extra charges let alone the lack of safety standards.Quite like what Mr.Mustafa points out i was very uncomfortable with the way landing was carried out.The immensely low engine power made the aircrafts cabin pressure fluctuate to magnanamous proportions.At once I could also feel the unease of the rest of the fellow passengers.I was muted also once I saw the not so worrying gesture on the faces of the cabin crew combined with the relativey good looking female crew memebrs.
My journey ended well but my heart grieves for all those innocent lives lost at the cost of perhaps the negligence of the pilot or some other technical default…I hope the Airline is able to maintain safety standards including considering the issue of the culpability of octenogenarian pilots who in no way should be allowed to carry on afer their due retirement.
I disagree with your comment on our national airline, PIA. I have traveled extensively on 10-12 different airlines over many years. PIA’s aircraft maintenance and crew skills are among the very best. Specifically, PIA is well-known for extra-smooth landings.
Totally agree with you on Pilots’ capabilities and their extra smooth landing. We went to Skardu from Islamabad on 13th July (after flight on 12th July was cancelled due to bad weather). The flight was flown by Capt Awan, a very seasoned pilot who warned us half way through that the plane may have to return if the weather conditions in Skardu are not favourable. The landing was really smooth and for those who have not flown to Skardu, FYI it may be regarded as one of the trickiest spots in the world to land at. (Had to change this view slightly on the way back while landing in ISB after the plane literally bounced a couple of times before sticking firmly to the ground).
Indeed our PIA pilots are amongst the best. Remember how a 747 pilot used emergency braking to burst the tyres and stopped the plane when it over-shot the runway but the engines could not gain enough power to take off? this also happened in ISB a few years ago. Only experts who can keep their nerves intact can do it!.
Having said that, my statement actually related to the maintenance and condition of the PIA planes. The same plane we flew on to Skardu was is a very bad condition maintenance wise. Planes flying on international sectors are still in better physical condition, but have a look at planes flying domestically.
I traveled on Airblue once from khi to Islamabad and experienced the same things Mustafa did. Being in that plane felt like i was sitting on the engine seat (next to the driver) of a mini bus that used to bring us home from school. I decided that day that i wont fly Airblue again in my life.
I also traveled once on Airblue, from Lahore to Abu Dhabi and back. I was sort of surprised at the landing and take off aswell, although the flight itself was comfortable.
I think the suggestion that Air Blue flights should be grounded for the time being, until cause of crash is established by a competent authority is good.
Dear Readers,
I agree with Mr.Mustafa; I have personally experience the same on Air Blue flights. While this crash may be purely because of weather conditions, the aircraft maintenance may be an issue as well. I have flown quite a few airlines since I work in the UAE.
Flights on Air blue have had a tendency to be late, which might have created pressure on maintenance schedule. The last time I took an Air Blue flight was in September 2009. I still remember the turbulent take off and landing. Surprisingly, the crew remained calm. Just to bring on the record this particular flight departed after a delay of 8 hours from the stated time and one of the seats did not have a life-jacket as well.
We hope that maintenance factors did not contribute to the crash. I also feel sad on the demise of the Youth Parliament Members and all other passengers.
Regards,
Muaz Popatia
I think a number of students were travelling on this flight to attend the session of Youth Parliment Pakistan. I know of one girl who has died and was member of the Youth Parliament. Such a tragedy to lose our talented young men and women in this crash.
Inna lillahi wa ina Ilahi rajioun,
May Allah Bless the relatives of those who passed away in this tragedy! (Ameen)
Our sympathies are with the families of the deceased.
May Waheguru grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the families left behind to bear the tragic loss!!!
انّا للہ و انّا الیه راجعون
Three victims were my neighbors of 13D Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi. RIP
Inna Lilla Hay Wa Inna Alahay Rajeoon,
Its really a shocking tragedy, for who perished in the crash, we express our deep condolences and sorrow to the familiies of the deceased and pray to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and bestow courage to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable and untimely loss of lives with fortitude and strength.
We also pray for quick and complete recovery of the passengers sustained injuries.
I dont know why there is a huge crowd of Reporters/Journalists in front of PIMS entrance .. they are not doing anything and are delaying the whole process of rescue … ?????
Inna Lilla Hay Wa Inna Alahay Rajeoon,
It is a great tragedy for all Pakistan, May Allah rest the soul of the deceased in peace and give strength to the families of the departed souls, Ameen.
Request to all peoples to pray for their souls.
I work with an organization in F-7, It was heavy rain when i reached my office in morning. I was just switching on my computer while i heard a loud voice of flying plane i wondered why its so noisy i rushed to room window when i saw an airplane flying very low, my heart just clicked something wrong going to be happen. after sometime one of my colleague told an airblue plane has crashed. i told her that i saw this plane to be lost but i couldnt do anything. It is sad it is very sad. I am just in shock and unable to do anything.
May God Bless there soul in heaven. Lucky those 12 people who missed their flights. God gifted them a new life.
May their souls rest in peace!!!
My prayers for those who are suffered and perished in this incident.
Inna Lilla Hay Wa Inna Alahay Rajeoon,
It is a great tragedy for Pakistan, May Allah rest the soul of the deceased in peace and give strength to the families of the departed souls, Ameen. Always recite Ayat-e-Kareema for the protection from suddent death and difficulties. We all should remember the Life Hereafter and we should be ready for that LIFE. May Allah also Give us Strength to prepare ourselves for the next life. Ameen
This came straight after Shab E Baraat. Whether or not it was incompetency on part of the control tower or simply the weather conditions which has lead to this unfortunate event is my query. With the forecasters predicting that it would remain glum and overcast, the plane should have been ordered to land or not take off. The information that I just recieved was that the pilot was ordered to land as the weather conditions were not permissible for him to fly. God knows what happened after that. May God bless us all. Deepest Condolences for the 25 passengers who passed away, with the Holy Month of Ramadan just around the corner.
Inalillahe Wa Inna Eleyh Rajuoon.
May their souls rest in peace and may Allah(SWT) give courage to the relatives of the people who perished in this tragic accident. Ameen.
May Allah grant the departed souls in jannah and give courage to their families to bear this loss.Ameen
Inalillahe Wa Inna Eleyh Rajuoon.
I am in Dubai but when i saw this shocking News than My heartfelt grief
May ALLAH grant the departed souls a place in Jannah, May ALLAH bless the people who died in this crash and Sabar to the families of plane crash victims. May ALLAH give strength to the Victims friends and families Ameen
A Very Sad Morning and Day here in Pakistan.
My Sympathies and great sorrow for All Family Members, Relative and Friend of the plane crash victoms – passengers (adult – kids) and crew members.
May Allah grant the departed souls a place in Jannah and Sabar to the families of plane crash victims. Ameen
A very sad news. My heartfelt grief and prayers for the departed souls are with the grieved families who lost their loved ones. I also pray for the early recovery of the injured. We need a lot to update our rescue and search system in Pakistan. I hope high level inquiry will be conducted on this tragic incident.
Inna Lilla Hay Wa Inna Alahay Rajeoon,
It is a great tragedy for Pakistan, May Allah rest the soul of the deceased in peace and give strength to the families of the departed souls, Ameen. Always recite Ayat-e-Kareema for the protection from suddent death and difficulties. We all should remember the Life Hereafter and we should be ready for that LIFE. May Allah also Give us Strength to prepare ourselves for the next life. Ameen.
Inalillahe Wa Inna Eleyh Rajuoon.
A shocking News…
May ALLAH grant the departed souls a place in Jannah, May ALLAH bless the people who died in this crash and Sabar to the families of plane crash victims. May ALLAH give strength to the Victims friends and families Ameen
please update the list of passengers who survived … My freind “NAVEED ILYAS
” was on board .. please update