Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has publicly apologized after an advertisement showing one of its planes flying towards the Eiffel Tower sparked widespread backlash online.
The airline published the image on its official X account, with the intention of celebrating the resumption of flights to Paris after the lifting of safety restrictions. However, the image was quickly criticized for its perceived insensitivity, drawing comparisons to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The image showed a PIA plane heading directly towards the iconic French monument, accompanied by the caption “Paris, we are arriving today.”
Social media users were quick to point out the resemblance to the 2001 attacks, when hijacked planes were crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, killing nearly 3,000 people.
Many commenters expressed concern, with one asking, “Is this an advertisement or a threat?” Another joked: “Paris must be on high alert by now.”
Responding to the protest, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan acknowledged the unintentional nature of the image and emphasized that the airline never intended to evoke such negative associations.
“Unfortunately, this was exaggerated, with connotations and perceptions that were not intended,” Khan said. AFP. “It may have triggered some negative emotions, for which we sincerely apologize.”
The post garnered between 60,000 and 70,000 comments, with many users expressing strong objections. Some criticized the airline’s marketing team, while others downplayed the situation and joked: “I would rate this art a 9 out of 11.”
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the announcement, calling it an example of “stupidity”, and confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an inquiry into the matter.
While the controversial announcement has attracted significant negative attention, Khan noted that PIA’s return to European markets has been well received, with flights to Paris operating at more than 95% capacity. Despite the ongoing backlash, the post remains posted on the airline’s official X account.
