NEW DELHI — Pakistan’s homemade Mushshak military aircraft crashed while on a routine training flight, killing both its pilots. Pakistan exports Mushshak aircraft to several Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The two-seat trainer crashed in Rahwali Cantt Gujranwala, 151 km (93 mi.) southeast of Islamabad, a statement from the Pakistan army says. The Pakistan army is investigating the exact reasons for the crash.
More trouble is brewing for Air India, as its employees have threatened to strike over the airline’s proposal to reduce certain pay allowances, a move likely to strain operations ahead of the busy holiday travel season. The cash-strapped national carrier wants a 15% reduction in allowances for all categories of employees, including pilots, an airline official says.
Singapore Airlines will be the first carrier to fly the Airbus A380 to India, after the government lifted a ban on operating these very large aircraft to the world’s second-most populous country. “We have been keen to operate the Airbus A380 to India and are glad that the Air Services Agreement [ASA] between Singapore and India now allows us to do so,” says Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President-Marketing Planning, Lee Wen Fen.