According to Privatization Commission officials, PIA now has a positive equity of Rs 30 billion, has been exempted from 18% sales tax on aircraft leasing and international routes have also been cleared. Photo: archive
A Pakistan International Airlines flight en route from Jeddah to Lahore made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a technical alert was received in the air, prompting the deployment of oxygen masks and causing panic among passengers, including dozens of Umrah pilgrims.
According to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson, flight PK-860 was scheduled to land at Lahore airport at 8:00 p.m., however, it was diverted to Dammam King Fahd International Airport due to a technical issue. Authorities say the plane was carrying 381 passengers.
The pilot successfully made an emergency landing at Dammam airport, where emergency protocols were activated. During landing, oxygen masks were automatically deployed inside the cabin and all passengers were safely disembarked shortly thereafter.
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The PIA management arranged for an alternative plane, which was sent from Pakistan to ferry the stranded passengers to Lahore. The airline said steps were being taken to ensure passengers reached their destination as soon as possible.
In a similar case in November, PIA flight PK-859 from Lahore to Jeddah was forced to divert mid-flight and land at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport because the first officer’s windshield broke. The incident caused panic among passengers and PIA officials said the windshield would be replaced before passengers continued their journey to Jeddah on the same or an alternative plane.
