Karachi: A flight crew of Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) special flight that returned from London, was quarantined at Karachi Airport by the Sindh Health Department on April 5.
Pilots and the cabin crew were allowed to leave for their homes after testing negative for COVID-19 coronavirus.
As per the details, PIA operated two special flights carrying nearly 600 British passengers to Manchester and London. Four pilots and crew members who had flown the flights were stopped after they returned to Karachi by officers of the health department.
Earlier, Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) has advised pilots to not take part in flight operations. The PALPA stressed that the lives of pilots and aircrew were at risk if they flew to countries hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
“It has come to our notice that on recently operated ‘humanitarian flights’ safety has been compromised and COVID-19 related SOPs have been ignored. “The safety and health of our crew members has always been and remains our utmost priority. PALPA will in no circumstances compromise on the safety of its members,” it noted.
Pakistan had suspended international flights on March 21 as countries around the world have imposed travel restrictions to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.
