Aviation

PIA crew detained, plane searched for drugs in UK

Islamabad: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane flying to Heathrow Airport was thoroughly searched and its 14 member crew detained by British authorities after landing in London over information that there were narcotics on board the flight.
The incident happened on Monday when PK 785 from Islamabad to London arrived at the airport at 2:50pm. Upon landing, as passengers disembarked, the flight crew and aircraft were searched by authorities, PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar said.

The 14 crew members were kept in detention for five hours and, according to UK Border Agency (UKBA) sources, information had been received from Pakistan that there were narcotics on board the flight, Geo TV reported. According to the information, there was suspicion that the crew might be involved and the narcotics were hidden in different panels and areas of the plane, the report said.

However, the National Crime Agency and UKBA agents, after searching the plane for approximately four hours, did not find anything. The crew was later released after being questioned but their passports were withheld by the UKBA, which stated that further questioning might take place.

According to UKBA officials, the inquiry is still ongoing and after they are satisfied the next steps will be announced regarding whether the passports would be released or charges filed, the report said. In a statement, the Metropolitan police said action against PIA crew members was taken by the UKBA which is directly dealt by the Home Office. “We have not been informed as to why was the crew detained?” said Tajwar.

PIA has been suffering huge losses and administration is trying to improve the situation but the airline is frequently facing embarrassment. In January, as many as seven passengers were forced to stand throughout the over three-hour flight from Karachi to Madina after the airline boarded excess passengers in a serious breach of air safety regulations.

In February, a Heathrow-bound PIA aircraft was intercepted and escorted by fighter jets to Stansted Airport in northeast London because of a “vague security threat”. Later, a suspect was arrested and charged with fraud and misrepresentation by Met Police. PTI

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.