Tipsy chartered pilot makes it take-off, landing trip

A chartered plane took off from Karachi's Jinnah airport and within no time returned to land dangerously on the runway yesterday. The plane had 18 passengers and three crew members. Two of the passengers sustained injuries in the dangerous landing. Owing to landing on the runway, it was immediately closed for other planes. It was suspected that the pilot had consumed alcohol. When he was tested by the breathalyser, it was confirmed. The blood report showed that he had not one too many but too many. As against the permitted 0.03% alcohol in the blood, the pilot's blood showed 0.83% alcohol. The picture of the plane on the runway showed that it was heavy landing with the front tyre knocked out. In the event, the fully sozzled pilot did a favour by taking off and immediately landing, although causing injuries to two people. What if he had dozed off in midair and no way to wake him up?