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commander
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PMs plane escapes disaster
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=23362
Monday, July 20, 2009
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: It was a close call for Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gialani, his entourage and the crew of the Sharam-el-Shaikh bound special flight when the windscreen of PIA 310-Airbus was seriously damaged in midair at the speed of about 590 kilometers, 90 minutes short of the destination over the Red Sea last week. The plane that took off in early afternoon of Tuesday last and after about four hours flight when it was flying at about 31000 feet altitude, over the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia, it dipped suddenly, losing three thousand feet elevation. The windscreen did not shatter miraculously. The airline has ordered a domestic inquiry.
Pilots Zarak Khan and I.Mughal immediately reported the matter to the Military Secretary of the PM Brigadier Nasir Dilawar Shah, who informed Prime Minister Gilani about the incident. The pilots of the plane adjusted the speed to maintain balance of pressure in the cabin and the plane landed safely at the Sharm-el-Shaikh international airport.
The plane was immediately removed to Cairo International Airport with minimum load and the windscreen was changed. The plane was sealed for six hours and had a test flight late evening the same day before being declared fit for further journey.
The plane was later parked at the Cairo International airport and it was used for the return sojourn. The sources revealed that the special 310-Airbus plane was gifted by the Qatari government during General Pervez Musharrafs government and it was frequently used by the former president and former prime minister Shaukat Aziz for domestic and international travel.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=23362
Monday, July 20, 2009
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
ISLAMABAD: It was a close call for Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gialani, his entourage and the crew of the Sharam-el-Shaikh bound special flight when the windscreen of PIA 310-Airbus was seriously damaged in midair at the speed of about 590 kilometers, 90 minutes short of the destination over the Red Sea last week. The plane that took off in early afternoon of Tuesday last and after about four hours flight when it was flying at about 31000 feet altitude, over the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia, it dipped suddenly, losing three thousand feet elevation. The windscreen did not shatter miraculously. The airline has ordered a domestic inquiry.
Pilots Zarak Khan and I.Mughal immediately reported the matter to the Military Secretary of the PM Brigadier Nasir Dilawar Shah, who informed Prime Minister Gilani about the incident. The pilots of the plane adjusted the speed to maintain balance of pressure in the cabin and the plane landed safely at the Sharm-el-Shaikh international airport.
The plane was immediately removed to Cairo International Airport with minimum load and the windscreen was changed. The plane was sealed for six hours and had a test flight late evening the same day before being declared fit for further journey.
The plane was later parked at the Cairo International airport and it was used for the return sojourn. The sources revealed that the special 310-Airbus plane was gifted by the Qatari government during General Pervez Musharrafs government and it was frequently used by the former president and former prime minister Shaukat Aziz for domestic and international travel.
