RAWALPINDI: The federal government on Friday constituted an investigation team to probe the crash of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft near the Karachi airport.

Spokesman for the Aviation Division Abdul Sattar Khokhar said that a notification listing the names of the team members had been issued by the federal government.

He said the investigation team would be headed by Air Commodore Muhammad Usman Ghani, President of the Aircraft Accident and Investigation Board. He will be assisted by Wing Commander Malik Muhammad Imran, Additional Director of Technical Investigation; Group Captain Touqeer, Ops Investigator, Pakistan Air Force Safety Board, Kamra; and Mr Nasir Majeed, Joint Director of ATC Ops, AAIB.

The notification said that the investigation team would exercise powers conferred under CAA Rules, 1994, and submit its report to the Aviation Division within the shortest possible time. However, a preliminary statement would be issued within a month from the date of the notification.

Meanwhile, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan has expressed his profound grief and sorrow over the PIA plane crash in Karachi and ordered the investigation board to hold an inquiry into the tragedy.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2020