Today, 15 years on, Airblue Flight 202 still holds a stark memorial in the Margalla Hills after it crashed on 28 July 2010, taking the lives of all 152 on board. Airbus A-321 was on a route between Karachi and Islamabad and crashed as it approached the ground in heavy rain with poor visibility. It has been the deadliest aviation disaster in Pakistan.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) report released in 2012 attributed the crash to pilot error. The captain ignored air traffic control instructions and cockpit alerts. The first officer did not challenge the decisions despite warnings. ICAO later raised concerns over the quality and independence of the investigation.
A separate Peshawar High Court-ordered inquiry highlighted inexperience among air traffic controllers. ICAO also called for an independent revision of the crash report, which has not been implemented.
Following litigation and advocacy by the Airblue Crash Affectees Association, the Supreme Court ordered Airblue to pay Rs 5 million in compensation per victim. Payments were completed for most families, but some cases remain pending.
Safety and Policy Status
- Pakistan increased minimum safe approach altitudes into Islamabad.
- The CAA introduced cockpit resource management protocols.
- Legislative reforms to create an independent air accident investigation board are still pending.
- ICAO’s recommendations for investigation autonomy and revised reporting remain unaddressed.
152 trees were planted at Yadgar-e-Shuhada park near Daman-e-Koh as a memorial.
