ISLAMABAD, (DNA) – The investigation board on Friday has blamed maintenance department for the crash of PK-661 in Havelian.

The plane lost its power turbine blade during the flight that jammed one engine.

The report revealed that it was necessary to change the turbine blades after 10,000 hours but the department didn’t replace them. PIA should immediately hold audit of the department, it further suggested.

The report also recommended PIA to strictly follow the rules regarding planes’ maintenance and to take proper action to avoid such incidents in future.

In 2016, all 47 persons on board the ill-fated aircraft PK-661 including five of crew were confirmed dead after it crashed near Havelian due to a technical snag.

ATR-42 also known as PK-661 was enroute Islamabad from Chitral when it lost communication with air traffic control and crashed some ten kilometers of Havelian.

Known religious scholar Junaid Jamshed was onboard the flight along with wife and Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chitral, Osama Warraich had also boarded the aircraft with his wife and a daughter.