ISLAMABAD - A joint investigation team of International Civil Aviation Organisation, a UN aviation body, and Boeing will assist Pakistan in probe into the Friday’s plane crash.The team of experts from Boeing, the manufacturers of the Bhoja Air’s Boeing 737-200 that crashed near Islamabad, and ICAO, the largest international body for aviation, will assist the Defence Ministry-led Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the evaluation of circumstantial evidence and aircraft and flight safety procedures. Presently, some 10 experts of CAA Safety Investigations Board (SIB) from the board’s investigation components in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore are probing the crash. Reportedly, the experts are from the CAAs’ respective branches including Flight Operations, Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and Legal. The probe team also includes medical and weather specialists. Talking to The Nation, CAA SIB President Air Commodore Khawaja Majeed said ICAO and Boeing are invited officially and their arrival is expected soon. “They have been invited officially and they’ll join us soon. We’ll welcome their input.” He said the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would monitor the part of the investigation concerning ICAO and Boeing. To a question about the probe completion, the SIB head said, “Nowhere in the world can any timeframe on the completion of investigation be given when a tragedy of this magnitude occurs. If everything goes in the right direction; we get hold of relevant evidence and get it evaluated accordingly then the probe will take three months or even lesser time.”  “But if there’re complications, the investigation can take longer. Any exact time period cannot be estimated at this point.” He said one to two officials from respective branches of the CAA were engaged in the investigation to cover all the aspects. “It’s a very serious tragedy that has seen the loss of 127 precious lives. So we can’t rush the things. The reputed international bodies and companies are engaged to get an impartial, objective and true assessment of this tragedy even if it’s time-consuming.”When contacted, ICAO Spokesperson in Montreal, Canada, Denis Chagnon said the ICAO and Boeing experts were to visit Pakistan following the fulfilment of certain requirements.  “There’re certain procedures and official obligations that need to be followed. This will probably take a while but our experts would be there once the official issues are addressed.”Asked if he could provide the expected schedule to this effect, the spokesperson said: “That’s not for me to anticipate, you know. But soon, I believe the experts’ team would be there after getting permission from the authorities involved concerned. And this will happen soon, I hope.” SIB Group Capt (r) Mujahidul Islam directly supervises the crash probe. As per standard procedure, Islam, upon the completion of inquiry, would submit the related report to the SIB president who would submit these findings to the CAA director general. The CAA DG in his capacity as departmental representative, would officially hand over the CAA report to the joint secretary (aviation) in the Defence Ministry, who is to forward it for necessary action to the defence minister and secretary. Whether the report is published or kept classified, is for the defence ministry to decide, it is learnt.According to sources, the foreign experts would conduct the probe on two different lines. The Boeing team would evaluate the technical aspects, aviation, climatic, safety and fitness standards concerning the crashed Boeing while ICAO experts would investigate if the international aviation rules and regulations pertaining to air traffic control, navigational systems and air safety standards were properly followed.  

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