Tag: pilot

  • Pilot suspended after video shows him wielding axe, hitting parking lot gate

    Pilot suspended after video shows him wielding axe, hitting parking lot gate

    A viral video shows United Airlines pilot Kenneth Henderson Jones, 63, taking out his anger at a parking lot gate with an axe. NBC has reported that the man was arrested by authorities on Friday on charges of criminal mischief.

    According to the sheriff, parking lot employee Rick Stephens confronted Jones but he refused to drop the axe. Both men were uninjured during the confrontation, and the pilot lost possession of the weapon.

    Kenneth ran across the street and behind a building and stayed in a field until he was contacted by the Denver police, the report revealed.

    James said he was in his car when he came upon six vehicles waiting behind the three gates. Which is when “Kenneth started by saying he just hit his breaking point,” according to the sheriff.

    James said he grabbed the axe out of his vehicle and was only “trying to get rid of issues for everyone waiting.”

  • Snake on a plane: Pilot makes emergency landing after finding cobra on board

    A South African pilot had to make an emergency landing after discovering a cobra under his seat. The poisonous snake was five feet long.
    “To be truly honest, it’s as if my brain did not register what was going on,” Rudolph Erasmus, the pilot said to BBC.

    “I told them: ‘Listen, the snake is underneath my seat. It is inside the cockpit, so we are going to have to execute a landing as fast as possible,” said Erasmus while talking about how he handled the situation.

    He first thought the cold feeling on his back was his water bottle, however as he turned to the left and looked down, “I saw the cobra receding its head backwards underneath the seat.”

    The plane was going from Bloemfontein to Pretoria. Along with the serpent, the private aircraft, a Beechcraft Baron 58, was carrying four passengers.

  • PIA prohibits pilots and cabin crew from fasting during Ramzan

    PIA prohibits pilots and cabin crew from fasting during Ramzan

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has prohibited its pilots and cabin staff members from fasting during the holy month of Ramzan.

    As per a recent safety notice released by the national flag carrier, fasting is one of the key factors behind diminished human performance.

    The decision is part of the PIA’s in-flight safety measures, which were recently announced by Aamir Bashir, the PIA’s General Manager (GM) of Flight Services.

    In order to meet the physical and psychological demands of flying, a healthy diet is crucial for pilots. Human errors that result in plane crashes can be minimized by focusing on nutrition due to its strong connection with flying performance.

    On-duty pilots and flying crew members should consider several aspects such as tiredness, performance degradation, and refrain from fasting throughout Ramadan, keeping in view the safety of the innocent lives (passengers and other staff).

    In addition to this, the administration has also allowed pilots and cabin crew members to apply for leave who do not wish to give up fasting during the month of Ramadan.

    Read more: Man hacks airline’s website after he lost his baggage

    Lastly, it also noted that non-compliance with the directive could result in the suspension or cancellation of the flying crew’s licenses.

  • Rashid Minhas remembered on his 50th martyrdom anniversary

    Rashid Minhas remembered on his 50th martyrdom anniversary

    The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has remembered the sacrifice of martyred Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas (Nishan-e-Haider) on his 50th death anniversary on Friday.

    The DG-ISPR said in a Twitter message, “On 50th Martyrdom anniversary, we remember with reverence, bravery & supreme sacrifice of National Hero Pilot officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed, Nishan-e -Haider.

    “In line of duty, Pilot offr Rashid Minhas lived up to great traditions of Pakistan Air Force defending the motherland.”

    The brave son of Pakistan was born on February 17, 1951, in Karachi. He belonged to the famous Minhas clan of Rajputs.

    His childhood fascination with aircraft and aviation led him to what he truly was destined for. Minhas embraced his true passion after school and earned a degree in military history and aviation history from the University of Karachi.

    He was commissioned as a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force in 1971.

    Minhas was taxiing towards the runway when a Bengali instructor pilot, Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman, signalled him to stop and then climbed into the instructor’s seat. The jet took off and turned towards India.

    Minhas radioed PAF Base Masroor with the message that he was being hijacked. The air controller requested that he resend his message, and he confirmed the hijacking. Later investigation showed that Rahman intended to defect to India to join his compatriots in the Bangladesh Liberation War, along with the jet trainer.

    However, Minhas did the only thing within his control and forced that plane to crash just 32 miles from the Indian border, deliberately sacrificing his life for the honour of Pakistan.

    Minhas spent his early childhood in Lahore. Later, the family shifted to Rawalpindi.

    Awarded with Pakistan’s top military honour Nishan-e- Haider, Minhas became the youngest man in history and the only member of the Pakistan Air Force to be honoured with this award for his valiant feat.

    Titled a national hero, the Pakistan Air Force base at Kamra was renamed PAF Base, Minhas, often called Minhas-Kamra.

  • Maryam Mujtaba becomes first woman commercial pilot from Azad Kashmir

    Maryam Mujtaba becomes first woman commercial pilot from Azad Kashmir

    Maryam Mujtaba, a resident of Muzaffarabad has become the first female commercial pilot from Azad Kashmir.

    Talking to the media, Mujtaba said that flying planes always attracted her and she wanted to become a part of the aviation industry.

    AJK President Sardar Masood Khan praised her contributions to the field and has called her a role model for other young women.

    Mujtaba joined Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) back in 2011 as a cadet pilot. After getting the training from academies in Rawalpindi and America, she completed her flying hours through numerous domestic flights.

    Read more – Sindh appoints first-ever Hindu female Deputy Superintendent

    She was just promoted as a first officer by the national flag carrier after she finished her designated flying hours. Mujtaba currently operates the PIA Airbus A-320 aircraft in various countries of the world.

    Recalling her journey, she said her inspiration was captain Ayesha Rabia, who was also a captain in PIA. 

    “When I was a child, I was very excited to see a woman flying planes and I told my father that girls can fly planes too,” the pilot remembered, adding that it wasn’t always smooth sailing, but things turned out in her favour.

    She attributed her success to her family, friends and colleagues.

    Mujtaba encouraged women who want to become pilot and those who want to pursue other fields.

    Mujtaba highlighted that confidence is the “key to success.”

    “You should always be confident about what you are doing and take charge of your responsibilities,” the pilot advised.

  • 99-year-old woman sets world record as oldest active pilot and flight instructor

    A 99-year-old California woman is now in the record books as the world’s oldest active pilot and flight instructor.

    Robina Asti gave her final flight lesson Sunday for a flight academy at Riverside Municipal Airport.

    Robina said she wanted to show that seniors are strong, vital, and can still contribute.

    “I love getting people to experience what it’s like to lift off this Earth,” she said. “It is so good.”

    She took student Brandon Martini with her. The previous record-holder, an Iowa man, flew at age 98. Robina has been teaching people how to fly for decades.