Alcohol cited by probe into Shaheen 737 landing accident

Pakistani investigators believe consumption of alcohol prior to flight affected the judgement of a Shaheen Air Boeing 737 which suffered loss of both main landing-gear after touchdown at Lahore. The aircraft slid off runway 36L and came to rest nearly 200ft left of the centreline and just over 8,300ft from the threshold. Pakistani investigation authority SIB states that the aircraft had conducted an unstable approach to the runway, with high speed having already followed an "incorrect" flightpath. The aircraft had deviated from the correct track and the assigned altitude during the flight. SIB says the crew's situational awareness had deteriorated and that the captain was suffering loss of concentration, "probably due to effects of alcohol". The captain was found to have a blood-alcohol level of 83mg/dl. Impairment of the central nervous system, says the inquiry, begins at around 50mg/dl. No trace was found in the first officer.<br/>