ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The Saudi Arabian aircraft that crash-landed at Karachi airport 13 years ago is finally being transferred to Hyderabad this week. The move will take place in the early hours of November 21, with the aircraft being transported along the National Highway using a specialized trailer equipped with advanced German technology. The transfer, which will be carried out by New Babar Cargo Movers, involves a 60-tonne, 160-foot plane.
The aircraft will travel from Karachi’s Malir area, moving through Gharo and Thatta, before arriving at the Pakistan Aviation Authority’s (PAA) training facility in Hyderabad. According to Project Director Munir Alam, all necessary no-objection certificates (NOCs) have been obtained from the relevant authorities to ensure a smooth transfer.
To minimize disruptions to traffic, the aircraft has been dismantled into two parts for the journey. This transfer marks the second time an aircraft has been moved to the PAA’s Civil Aviation Training Institute (CATI) in Hyderabad, following the earlier transfer of a Boeing via the motorway.
The plane being moved this week, a chartered MD-83, made an emergency landing at Karachi airport on December 25, 2011, after its nose wheel failed to deploy. The aircraft, which had been carrying 72 passengers and crew, was en route from Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, to Quetta when the malfunction occurred. Despite the serious issue, an expert pilot successfully landed the plane without incident, and everyone on board remained unharmed.
The aircraft has been left idle at Karachi airport for over a decade, but now, it will be put to use for training purposes, serving as a valuable resource for future aviation professionals. This long-awaited move marks the end of an unusual chapter in the plane’s journey and the beginning of its new life in aviation training.
