Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been slapped with a fine after an air hostess managed to enter Canada without a passport, insiders revealed to ARY News. The incident involved an air hostess who was on duty for flight PK-781 flying from Islamabad to Toronto, traveling only with PIA General Declaration documents instead of the required passport.
This significant oversight resulted in a hefty penalty for the national carrier, as they allowed a crew member to bypass the standard documentation process. A PIA spokesperson confirmed the airline was fined $250, underlining the seriousness of the breach. Despite this, the spokesperson denied any suggestions that the air hostess was attempting to seek political asylum in Canada.
The occurrence adds to a growing list of concerns over the past two years, where more than ten PIA air hostesses have reportedly gone missing in Canada. This pattern raises alarms about the safety and intentions of airline staff on international assignments.
The issue of missing crew members was highlighted earlier this month when Jibran Baloch, a flight steward, did not return for his scheduled flight back to Pakistan. Additionally, a female air hostess, Maryam Raza, recently vanished, leaving behind her uniform and a note expressing gratitude towards PIA.
The recent events have brought attention to broader challenges within Pakistan’s aviation sector. On March 14, the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) issued a white paper critiquing the industry for a lack of professionalism and management issues. These shortcomings have contributed to the European Union banning Pakistani airlines from operating within its territories. The AOOA has called for significant reforms to address these challenges and improve the aviation industry’s standards.