Pakistan International Airlines fleet of ATRs grounded for examination

Subsequent to the tragic accident involving one of its ATR turboprops on December 7, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has grounded its entire fleet of ATR aircraft until the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) investigation board has had the opportunity to perform ‘shakedown tests’ on the these planes.
The PCAA will also be conducting a thorough investigation of the accident alongside ATR and Pratt & Whitney, the latter having provided the turboprop’s PW100 engines. The aircraft in question was an ATR 42-500, flight number PK661, which crashed near the town of Havelian, en route from Chitral to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, killing all 48 passengers and crew on board.
PIA’s fleet of ATRs now comprises five 42-500s and five 72-500s. According to a statement issued by the carrier on December 12, “It has been decided to keep all 10 ATR aircraft grounded till they are cleared after thorough examination.”
PIA has also confirmed that the PCAA has already started tests with the assistance of PIA’s quality control department. With the grounding of all ATR aircraft, PIA has had to advise customers that its current operations to Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, Moenjodaro, Zhob, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Chitral and Gilgit will be reduced.