Bank of Punjab CEO recalls horrific PIA plane crash, says he has survivor's guilt

Bank of Punjab (BoP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zafar Masud, who survived a PIA plane crash last year, on Saturday spoke about the incident leaving him with survivor's guilt.

He said now he doesn't have the courage to meet the families of those killed during the incident.

Read more: PIA plane crash: Survivor recalls horrific tragedy that claimed 97 lives

On May 22, 2020, a PIA plane crashed into a residential area near Model Colony in Karachi's Malir neighbourhood after losing its engines. The PK-8303 tragedy has become the third most catastrophic aviation disaster in the country's history.

One year after the tragic accident, Masud said that what happened to him has strengthened his belief in miracles.

Read more: PK-8303 tragedy: Pakistan marks one year since deadly PIA plane crash in Karachi

"At the last minute, my seat was changed from window to aisle. I believe this location was crucial to my survival, said Masud.

"For some reason, when the plane broke apart and my seat was thrust out away from the wreckage, it fell straight on the rooftop instead of the road and [...] reduced the damage to my body," he went on to add.

"In the days following the crash, I could not decipher why was I spared. There were so many others who had lost their lives," the BoP official said.

The survivor said that he is on the road to recovery due to the grace of Allah, the unconditional support of his colleagues and family.

'Saddest day'

In a statement issued on the anniversary of the event, Masud said May 22, 2020, was one of the saddest days in our lives and will remain so forever.

The crash survivor said God had been very kind to him and he has been managing his recovery well, including psychiatric counseling, medical treatment, etc.

"I struggled to attend funerals without thinking that the family of the deceased must be wondering why was I given a miracle when their

loved ones were not," he said.

This is probably the most difficult phase of my life which I am still struggling to get over with a lot of endeavors, the BoP chief executive said.

"Unfortunately, even after the lapse of 12-months of this crash, which was the 6th Pakistani plane to crash in a decade, nothing soberly changed at the national level to improve passenger safety," he said.

I believe that we at least need to bring domestic flight standards at par with international ones, and enforce standardised procedures to handle crashes and their aftermath, the survivor added.

Setting up an NGO

"I believe that the entire eco-system needs to be reviewed and revamped to ensure better safety and security standards," he said.

Masud said given that nothing had been done to revamp to ensure better safety and security standards, he had decided to set up a not-for-profit organisation that would be dedicated to working on passenger safety and security.

"The foundation will have two main functions — firstly, work on raising awareness about passenger safety and their rights within the civil society; and secondly, work with policymakers to improve standards & regulations, push for legislative change and their implementation, and ensuring better legal assistance & coverage for affectees," he said.

On the first anniversary of this tragic incident, may God rest the departed souls in peace and give strength to their families to bear their irreparable loss, he added.