While attempting to land from a grossly unstabilized approach to Karachi, Pakistan, the Airbus A320 flight crew apparently was unaware that the landing gear was not extended. Both engines were damaged and began leaking oil as the aircraft skittered down the runway at high speed. Finding the wheel brakes ineffective, the crew attempted to go around. The engines lost power about four minutes after the aircraft became airborne, and the A320 descended into a populated area, killing all but two of the 99 people aboard and one person on the ground.
The accident occurred on May 22, 2020, at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. The aircraft was being operated as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Flight 8303 and was en route to Karachi from Lahore.
The report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board of Pakistan (AAIB) described the 58-year-old captain as “bossy, firm, dominant, and overbearing.” It said that he had “below-average intelligence … little regard for autho…
