PK-661: Mother says late first officer complained of unfit planes

RAWALPINDI: The mother of the young first officer who died in the PK-661 crash near Havelian on Wednesday, has said that her son would repeatedly complain about unfit planes in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) fleet.

"My son would repeatedly say the planes are not fit to fly and they should not be allowed to operate on dangerous routes," 24-year-old First Officer Ahmed Janjua's mother said, while speaking exclusively to Geo News.

"He was the youngest of all my children and loved me beyond any measure," she said, breaking into tears remembering her late son.

Ahmed's mother said, "I had asked him to quit flights to the northern areas and come home, to which he replied, 'They are not relieving me at the moment; I will come to you in January or February.'"

Ahmed Janjua was living in Rawalpindi, while his family was based in Karachi. His mother had gone to visit him for a day, but decided to stay for a week upon her son's request.

On Wednesday afternoon, the ATR-42 aircraft of the PIA crashed into the hillside near Havelian area of district Abbottabad, killing all 42 passengers and five crew members onboard.

Janjua was one of the 47 victims of the deadly air crash.