The following Letter to the Editor was published in the Express Tribune on the 26th of May, 2013:
I was surprised by the reaction on social media and the Pakistani press of a PIA flight from Lahore to Manchester making an emergency landing at London’s Stansted Airport. Many commentators have argued that somehow Pakistan’s image has been tarnished and the crew aboard the aircraft should have calmed the situation down rather than requesting help from the control tower, which then scrambled jets, leading to this embarrassing situation.The provision of adequate safety for passengers and crews is held paramount in global aviation. If news reports are true that the two arrested individuals tried to force their way into the cockpit, which in itself is grounds for a serious breach of airline safety, according to regulations established post-9/11.
Critics should also consider that as the PIA aircraft was flying through European Union and specifically in UK airspace, it is also required to follow local rules and regulations as recommended by their aviation regulators. The captain and crew should be commended for erring on the side of caution and keeping the safety of their passengers paramount.
Syed Nadir El-Edroos
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