RAWALPINDI: Veteran Captain Fazle Ghani, the lead founder pilot of Emirates who was delegated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to set it up, passed away after a protracted illness. PIA CEO expresses deep sorrow over the demise of Fazal Ghani Mian.

PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Malik announced in a tweet: “Pride of Pakistan Aviation Captain Fazle Ghani passed away after a prolonged illness.”

Captain Fazal Ghani Mian was a renowned pilot of PIA. In 1987, PIA commissioned Captain Ghani to oversee Emirates Airline’s flight operations. Captain Ghani joins PIA after refusing the offer of citizenship from the UAE. Captain Ghani was a very patriotic and dutiful person.
He was the pilot at the controls of Emirates first flight EK600 from Dubai to Karachi operated on October 25, 1985, with an Airbus A300, leased from PIA.