Daily Times

Just three days after the tragic crash of Bhoja Airlines flight 213, all the usual suspects are up to their old, dirty tricks once again. That all 127 passengers lost their lives in a ball of fire seems to matter little to those who are now in charge of getting to the bottom of the second crash of a private passenger plane in less than two years. After all verbal condolences have been delivered and the victims of this national tragedy buried, it seems that everyone associated with the matter is eager to shift blame and pin responsibility for the crash on anyone but themselves. The government has, as usual, formed a judicial commission to probe the matter. Needless to say, this is a tried, tested and failed formula, one that the government readily uses to wash its hands of a prickly situation. Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar has given a clean chit to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), absolving it of any responsibility in the matter. This has, apparently, been done on the basis of the CAA having no hand in the technical maintenance of aircraft belonging to the airlines. Even so, the CAA is still the authority that, at the end of the day, approves any planes allowed to fly. It is the job of the CAA to make sure that maintenance is up to standard and that there are no gaping holes in quality and the security of all passengers. Therefore, Mr Mukhtar should realise that the CAA has everything to do with maintenance by making sure that it is up to the mark.

Farooq Bhoja, the head of Bhoja Air — who is now claiming he is only a small shareholder — has been detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). It must be put to Mr Bhoja that when his planes were labelled sometime back as a flight risk — the aircraft being old — and grounded as a result, how were they allowed back in the skies? Why was this particular flight given the go-ahead if weather conditions really were not all that favourable? The nation is shocked and is baying for accountability. Therefore, while this detainment does not come as a surprise and while fundamental questions must be asked, he must still be presumed innocent until found guilty.

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has offered its technical assistance for the investigation as, of course, its own reputation is at stake in such a colossal tragedy. This help is welcome because, frankly, when it comes to technical matters, we need all the help we can get. Meanwhile, in a disturbing development, two planes belonging to Shaheen Air are being investigated due to burst tyres and fuel tank leakages, creating panic among travellers. The CAA has its hands full, if only it would take some responsibility. Finally, one wonders what really will become of the memory of these victims. Compensation must be offered to all the families — in any fair society; the families of those killed in the Air Blue crash less than two years ago are still waiting for theirs. In that incident too no one has been held responsible. The only way their and the latest victims’ memory will be honoured is for investigations to be impartial and hard hitting. It is the custom in Pakistan to let issues fade away rather than be resolved. We cannot do this again when the lives of so many people remain at stake when they board a flight every day. *