Family of deceased seek accountability

Mumbai: The husband of Marya Zuberi, the deceased co-pilot of the aircraft that crashed in Ghatkopar, Prabhat Kathuria, has sought accountability in the probe. Mr Kathuria asked how the test flight was allowed to take off despite adverse weather conditions and how flight operations were conducted before the aircraft received a fitness certificate.

Speaking with The Asian Age, Mr Kathuria said, “A day before the test flight Marya had mentioned about the adverse weather unsuitable for the test flight. She was not keen on going but the company asked her to come for the testing. The DGCA should carry out the proper inquiry.”

In a statement given to police, he revealed that Marya was sure that company would not get permission for test flight. He further questioned if the aircraft was fit to fly. “We want to know exactly who was at fault,” read his statement.

According to the civil aviation ministry, before any test flight, a certificate to the effect that the aircraft is fit for flight is required by the authorised certifying staff of the operator as per regulatory provisions. However, the aircraft did not have the fitness certificate. The testing was conducted for applying the grant of certificate of worthiness from DGCA.  

The 22-year-old aircraft last flew on February 22, 2008, when it was with Uttar Pradesh Government. The aircraft belonged to a Mumbai-based company, UY Aviation Pvt Ltd. According to officials, the aircraft was bought from the UP government in 2014. It was under repairs since the past 18 months in Mumbai.

Five persons died after the aircraft crashed in Ghatkopar on Thursday. Among the dead were the aircraft’s four-member crew: Pilot P.S. Rajput, co-pilot Marya, two aircraft maintenance engineers — Manish Pandey and Surbhi — and a pedestrian who was killed near the crash site.