Pakistan’s national air carrier PIA on Wednesday asked all its pilots and cabin crew to abstain from fasting during the ongoing holy month of Ramzan on their on-flight duty days.
The guidelines, issued by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), cited a medical recommendation which emphasised that flying while fasting will not only risk their lives but also that of others too, in the aircraft and on the ground.
The medical recommendation also stated that a person faces dehydration, laziness and sleep while observing a fast and, in such a case, the element of risk is considerable and the margin of safety is minimal.
Therefore, with immediate effect, pilots and cabin crew members have been instructed not to fast during their on-duty hours, whether it be for international or domestic flights.
“During fasting, attention and decision-making ability decrease, reflexes begin to slow down, stamina also decreases, so after considering all the factors, it is clear that flying while fasting is not only harmful to you but that of others too, in the aircraft and on the ground,” Dawn quoted an instruction letter issued to all cabin crew.
The order also made it clear if any pilot or crew member was fasting, he or she would not be allowed to board the flight.
The decision comes a month after an Aircrafts Investigation Board, investigating the PIA Airbus flight which crashed in a crowded neighbourhood of a housing society near the Karachi Airport in May 2020, blamed the mishap on human errors.
The board held lapses in judgement during landing procedures by the two pilots as the main reason for the fatal crash in which 101 people were killed. One of the pilots of the ill-fated plane was observing fast.
The report also held the PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority responsible for not having clear instructions on whether pilots should fast during the month of Ramzan while on duty.
Vikram Sharma is a globe-trotting journalist with a global perspective on international events. His articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing insights into the world’s most pressing challenges.
