Former PIA Fokker F-27 Friendship (AP-AUR) in Chitral

[Abbas Ali]

Following video shows former PIA Fokker F-27 Friendship (AP-AUR) in Chitral.



On June 16, 2004, AP-AUR failed to stop on runway after landing at Chitral Airport and overshot the runway. It slipped into nearby fields as all its tyres burst with a loud noise. The accident caused damage to aircraft's landing gear, engines and nose section. The aircraft was declared a write-off and withdrawn from service after the accident.

All 40 people including 4 crew members aboard the aircraft remained safe.

According to accident investigation, the crew landed AP-AUR too far down the runway leaving little space for the aircraft to slow down on runway.

In 2008 according to a news report, AP-AUR abandoned at Chitral was used as a travel agency by some local people.

Later it was converted as coffee shop at Hindukush Heights Hotel in Chitral owned by Siraj ul-Mulk. The aircraft from accident site was dragged by about 50 people to Siraj ul-Mulk’s Hotel.

Related photo and more details on following link:

Link: Chitrali Cafe

[ConnieMan]

Great after flying life use of this historical propliner!

I'm very happy to see AUR is being used as Cafe instead of turned into pop cans, best part is that whole airframe is kept intact including wings, stabs, fin and all instruments in the cockpit. Hope they keep it alive for many more years to come. I believe there is a ex-Oriant Airways DC3 that crashed many many years ago but it's fuselage was turned into Cafe some where in northern Pakistan area.

[Abbas Ali]

I believe there is a ex-Oriant Airways DC3 that crashed many many years ago but it's fuselage was turned into Cafe some where in northern Pakistan area.

It's Orient Airways DC-3 (AP-AAF) which made safe crash landing in dry river bed soon after take-off from Skardu Airport, in October 1954.

The aircraft is preserved at Shangrila Resort Hotel, Skardu, and used as a cafe. I saw aircraft's interior in a TV programme aired few years ago. The interior, cabin ceiling/wall is very well refurbished with fancy lighting fixtures and looked very nice in that TV programme, there also was nice little framed black & white old photo of AP-AAF displayed inside the cabin with nice setting of tables and chairs for visitors to enjoy cup of tea/coffee.

Abbas