ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan’s defense minister says all airplanes operated by private airlines in the country must undergo a new technical inspection to determine whether they are safe to fly.
Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar’s comments Sunday come two days after a passenger jet crashed as it tried to land in a thunderstorm at the main airport in the capital, Islamabad, killing all 127 on board.
It was the second major air disaster involving a private airline in Pakistan in less than two years. It revived concerns about the safety of aviation in a country saddled by economic problems.
Mukhtar told state TV the inspections would be carried out one by one, and any planes that failed would be grounded. He said planes currently in operation could continue to fly as they awaited inspection.