By Youssef Yahya 
Less than a week after resuming international flights to Europe, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) finds itself in the safety spotlight yet again. The airline is under investigation following an incident in which a flight landed on a closed runway at Lahore Airport, raising significant questions about the carrier’s adherence to safety and operational protocols.
The Incident: Flight PK150
The flight in question was PK150, operating from Dammam Airport (DMM), Saudi Arabia, to Multan Airport (MUX), Pakistan, on January 17, 2025. The weekly service, operated by an Airbus A320-200 (registration AP-BON), faced unexpected weather-related complications. Thick fog at Multan forced the flight to divert to Lahore.
Departing Dammam at 02:30 local time, the three-hour journey proceeded smoothly until the decision was made to continue to Lahore due to improved weather conditions there. As the aircraft approached Lahore Airport, it was cleared to land on runway 36R. However, at 07:34 local time, the plane mistakenly landed on parallel runway 36L, which was unlit at the time of landing. Despite the error, the aircraft landed safely, rolled out normally, and taxied to the gate under its own power.
Immediate Actions Taken
Air traffic control staff who observed the error promptly filed a safety report. As a precaution, the flight’s captain and first officer were relieved of their duties pending a full investigation. This incident has reignited concerns about PIA’s safety standards at a critical juncture for the airline.
Implications for PIA’s European Reentry
The timing of this incident is particularly problematic for PIA. After years of being blacklisted by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) due to recurring safety issues, PIA had just resumed European services. The carrier’s first flight from Islamabad to Paris took off on January 10, 2025, marking a symbolic milestone in its recovery efforts. Additionally, plans are underway to expand routes to London-Heathrow (LHR), Manchester (MAN), and potentially Birmingham (BHX).
This latest safety lapse threatens to undermine PIA’s efforts to restore its reputation and credibility on the global stage.
A Troubled History of Safety Issues
PIA’s history is marred by serious safety breaches. In June 2020, EASA banned the airline following numerous lapses, including fake pilot licenses, overloaded flights, and questionable maintenance practices. The ban followed a fatal crash on May 22, 2020, when a PIA Airbus A320 operating a domestic flight from Lahore to Karachi crashed into a residential area near Karachi Airport. Of the 99 passengers and crew on board, 97 perished, and eight individuals on the ground were injured, with one succumbing to injuries later.
PIA Current Fleet and Future Plans
As of 2025, PIA operates a fleet of 32 aircraft, including 17 Airbus A320s, three ATR42-500s, and 12 Boeing 777s of varying models. The average age of the fleet is 18.2 years. In an ambitious move, PIA plans to bring 13 stored aircraft back into service to support its expansion strategy.
In December 2024, a PIA spokesperson emphasized the airline’s commitment to growth, stating,
“With the anticipated expansion of our network and the potential resumption of flights to the UK and Europe, the airline is committed to meeting fleet requirements for its ambitious 2025 operating plan. PIA is proud to maintain notable schedule reliability and an on-time performance exceeding 90%, the highest in the country.”
- Featured image by Shadman Samee
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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