PIA

Pakistan's ailing flag carrier PIA has suspended a crew member after she was briefly detained by Canadian customs authorities along with two others for carrying the passport of an unrelated person, according to a media report on Saturday. The incident comes as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) grapples with flight attendants' disappearances amid a crew shortage. Hina Sani was detained along with two other crew members who were also on duty with her on flight PK-789 from Lahore to Toronto, the Dawn newspaper reported. However, the three crew members were later freed and allowed to travel back to Pakistan following investigations. Later, the PIA management suspended Sani and announced it would take further action in line with the Canadian customs' investigation report, the report said. It is against international law to carry someone else's passport while travelling abroad. PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said the airline management was in touch with the Canadian authorities

CAA has expressed its displeasure with PIA's "irresponsible attitude and maladministration as it seems to be unaware of international civil aviation leasing laws"

The loss-making carrier has been looking to reduce costs, particularly since the impact of the pandemic, as well as the fallout from a fake pilot credentials scandal

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) banned PIA from flying to the bloc in June over safety concerns

Pakistan last month grounded almost a third of its pilots after discovering they may have falsified their qualifications

The committee has also asked the airline for details of actions taken against the "sleeping pilot"

Airline was initially reluctant to take action against pilot but later caved in to pressure

PIA has invited applications for a new CEO and chief operating commercial officer

Boeing 777 aircraft has a seating capacity of 409, including jump seats for staff

According to reports, RAF fighter jets escorted the flight to Stansted Airport instead

The pilot of the ill-fated Pakistan International Airlines plane that crashed into a mountain on Wednesday killing everyone on board reportedly lost control of one of the engines, the airline said.

It would take time to recover the debris and all bodies as the crash took place in a mountainous region

Tensions have been running high between India and Pakistan following the Uri terror attack last month