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PIA pilot under investigation after he was caught napping during Islamabad-London flight: reports

Media reports suggest Captain Amir Hashmi handed over the aircraft to two first officers -- one of them a trainee pilot -- soon after take-off and went to the business class to get some sleep

PIA pilot caught napping during flight
Source: Wikimedia

The Pakistan International Airlines has reportedly suspended one of its pilots who took a two-and-a-half hour nap during an Islamabad-to-London flight that had more than 300 people on-board.

Captain Amir Hashmi, who is now under investigation, reportedly handed over the aircraft to two first officers -- one of them a trainee pilot -- soon after take-off, and went to the business class to get some sleep.

Local newspaper, 'Dawn', reported that a passenger had caught Mr Hashmi sleeping during the flight and raised the issue with an air hostess, who then had to log the incident in her report.

“Passenger (Seat 1 D) complained that while the captain was sleeping in business class cabin, I (the passenger) do not feel safe. It had been explained that two other crew members were in the cockpit but he said that he would follow the matter and write down a complaint card as well."

The newspaper also reported that the co-pilots did not report the incident to management because they were protecting Mr Hashmi, who has reportedly compromised the safety of his passengers once before.


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