ISLAMABAD: Gilgit airport was shut down on Sunday for flight operationsafter the only air traffic controller was detained by the districtadministration.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday issued a notificationregarding the suspension in flight operations to Gilgit after air trafficcontroller, Yasir Iqbal, was briefly detained.
Two men in civvies arrested Iqbal, air traffic controller and officiatingmanager at Gilgit airport, on Saturday morning over a dispute between CAAand district administration on the chopping of trees from the surroundingarea of the runway.
As per details, the deputy commissioner of Gilgit had ordered the airtraffic controller’s detention after trees were chopped off from thesurrounding area.
Authorities reportedly chopped off trees after pilots complained that dueto a thick cover of trees surrounding the runway, landing and taking off ofplanes was being affected and posed a risk. Further, authorities claimedthat at least eight to 10 fewer passengers were being allowed to boardGilgit flights as the weight would slow down take off and could possiblycause the plane to crash into trees.
However, the district administration sought a compensation from theaviation authority over the chopped trees and detained the air trafficcontroller.
Iqbal was, however, released a few hours later.
Air Traffic Controller Guild President Javed Hanif alleged that Iqbal was‘mistreated’ during his detention owing to which he could not perform dutyand hence called for suspension in flight operations. Following this, theCAA had issued its notification.
CAA officials maintain that it is the district administration’s authorityto ensure there are no tall trees or buildings in the runway surroundingareas and they cannot keep paying penalties for chopping off trees.
CAA Director General Hassan Baig while said, “The matter regardingcompensation for the chopped trees would be resolved soon.”