Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed flights from Islamabad to Paris and announced the news with an announcement that sparked mixed fury on social media.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PIA shared an image of a plane flying towards the Eiffel Tower, with the French flag in the background.
However, the red part of the flag next to the iconic landmark, along with the plane heading directly towards it. Some social media users found the images problematic.
The image was accompanied by the message: “Paris, we are coming today.”
Photo: @Official_PIA in X
Social media users were quick to react to the post, with some expressing confusion and humor about the graphic design choices and wording, while many made comparisons to images of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.
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Photo: @ThisisOshaz_ in X
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Photo: @zainab.hameed on Instagram
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Photo: @Casualrao on Instagram
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Photo: @brokebutimcute in X
This incident is not the first time PIA has faced scrutiny over its advertisements. Users on . While the ad was created long before the attacks, the context has made it a source of regret and controversy.
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Photo: @Saikirankannan in X
Despite the criticism, PIA’s new flight route to Paris marks a significant development for the airline, although the advertising gaffe has certainly raised eyebrows.
