In an incident reflecting a concerning trend, two seasoned flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) reportedly absconded upon the airline’s arrival in Toronto from Islamabad, Canada. This brings the count of PIA crew members eluding authorities upon reaching Canada to four for this year alone, mirroring a similar occurrence with four crew members in the previous year.
A spokesperson for PIA identified the two elusive senior flight attendants as Khalid Mehmood and Feda Hussain, who disembarked in Toronto after the arrival of PIA flight PK772 from Islamabad. Rather than fulfilling their professional obligations by returning to Pakistan, they chose to vanish, prompting the flight to return to Islamabad without them.
The airline official stated that the pertinent local authorities in Toronto have been duly notified about the situation. Furthermore, stringent departmental measures are anticipated, with an impending investigation likely to result in the termination of their services.
This incident adds to a series of challenges faced by PIA, underscoring the critical need for enhanced oversight and regulatory measures within the aviation sector. Published in Dawn on November 14th, 2023.
