Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has directed its pilots and cabin crew to refrain from fasting while on duty during the ongoing holy month of Ramzan, as reported by news agency PTI citing an airline official.
The top management of PIA has issued immediate compliance orders to pilots and cabin crew members based on these recommendations.
“The PIA’s top management, based on these recommendations, has issued compliance orders to the pilots and cabin crew personnel with immediate effect,” an official of the ailing airline told PTI.
Citing medical advice, the guidelines from PIA highlighted the risks associated with flying while fasting, emphasizing concerns for both the safety of the crew and passengers onboard, as well as those on the ground, the PTI report said.
The medical recommendation pointed out that fasting can lead to dehydration, fatigue, and reduced alertness, posing significant risks during flight operations. As a result, pilots and cabin crew have been instructed to refrain from fasting during their on-duty hours, whether for domestic or international flights.
An instruction letter issued to all cabin crew, as reported by Dawn, highlighted the decreased attention, decision-making ability, and reflexes during fasting, underscoring the potential harm to everyone involved in flight operations.
Furthermore, the directive stated that any crew member observing a fast would not be permitted to board the flight.
This decision follows a recent report by the Aircraft Investigation Board, which attributed the fatal crash of a PIA Airbus flight near Karachi Airport in May 2020 to human errors, including lapses in judgement during landing procedures. One of the pilots involved in the crash was reportedly fasting at the time.
The report also criticised both PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority for the lack of clear guidelines regarding fasting for pilots during the month of Ramzan while on duty.
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