PIA sacrifices black goat for 'safe, secure' ATR flight

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PIA sacrifices black goat for safe, secure ATR flight

Rawalpindi - However, local Twitterati was not 'impressed' by the 'act'.

By Web Team

Published: Mon 19 Dec 2016, 9:22 AM

Last updated: Mon 19 Dec 2016, 1:45 PM

After a recent horrific plane crash, Pakistan International Airlines - in an effort to ensure a safe and secure flight - sacrificed a black goat as 'sadaqah' ahead of an ATR-42 flight on Sunday.
Later the plane left for Multan from the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, making it the first ATR-42 aircraft to be pressed into service since the start of shakedown tests on all such aircraft in the wake of an air crash near Havelian on Dec 7, Dawn.com reported.
According to a spokesman for the national flag carrier, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had decided to ground the ATR-42 fleet until all its aircraft had been subjected to the shakedown tests and cleared for flight operations.

The grounding of the ATR fleet had badly affected the PIA's flights to and from cities and towns.

Black goat as Sadaqah in Islam
Muslims often sacrifice a black goat for Allah's blessings and ward of any evil eye or misfortune.

CAA and personnel of the PIA's quality control department are taking part in the thorough examination of each aircraft.
According to the PIA spokesman, an aircraft will remain grounded until it is examined properly, Dawn.com added.
The ATR-42 aircraft (PK-681) left Islamabad for Multan at 6:40pm and returned to the capital on its scheduled time of 9:45pm.
PIA has been flying four flights of C-130 aircraft, obtained from the Air Force, for Gilgit and Chitral from the Benazir Bhutto International airport.
However, local Twitterati didn't seem to be impressed and instead demanded remedial measures by PIA to ensure the quality of planes and safety of passengers:

#PIA needs new planes, not 'evil eye' black goat sacrifices.
I'm not going to board any PIA plane under such circumstances.
- Sabena Siddiqi (@sabena_siddiqi) December 19, 2016

We are great people..!! Now our flights depend on Sadqa..!!#ComeDiewithUs #PIA https://t.co/NDSW8ktXFH
- Mitharam Parmar (@mitharamparmar) December 19, 2016

So, #PIA should change it's slogan like this "Give Sadqa Before Fly us" ...https://t.co/cMzjaYT1hB
- Adil Aziz Khanzada (@adilmediaperson) December 19, 2016

Spare the #bakra service the plane #PIA
- Sara Taseer (@sarataseer) December 19, 2016

So What next #PIA ?
Is govt going to add BAKRA surcharge to passengers ticket?
Shame!
- Shakeel khan (@shakeel2846) December 19, 2016

#PIA are u kidding? instead to focus on maintenance & repairs of your planes, you are sacrificing goats? like seriously? Sigh Unbelievable!!
- Annum Xahra Naqvi (@Numzeeee) December 19, 2016

Govt orders 'sadqa' before every ATR flight ?? #PIA pic.twitter.com/SXABnLRpT5
- Benazir Mir Samad (@BenazirMirSamad) December 18, 2016

#PIA makes it obligatory to slaughter a black goat on the runway before the take-off. Goats prices go high.#ATR
- ((( H@roon ???? ))) (@HaroonRsh) December 18, 2016

If #PIA was looking for a tag line, here it is, "serving food fresh". pic.twitter.com/ixmZ0ifHYr
- kill me softly (@hangmenow_) December 19, 2016

Spare the #bakra service the plane #PIA
- Sara Taseer (@sarataseer) December 19, 2016

There were also those who came to PIA's defence:

Why are people making fun of sadqa nothing wrong with it and #Pia did not do this their crew did. Really retarded manipulation of facts
- FK (@faisalkapadia) December 19, 2016

Wonder if every1 made same jokes for #MH370 as they are makin for #PIA. Yestrday there was a plane crash in Jakarta, today Siberia. Grow up.
- Broke Hipster (@itsacanary) December 19, 2016

ne need to make fun of slaughtrng goat,don't u slaughter for safety 4m evil eyes? if safety procedures r followd thn praying is good #PIA
- ????? ???? (@LuckyNEDian) December 19, 2016

(Curated by Yousuf Saifuddin Kapadia)