PIA offers to fly Turkish Airlines passengers following terror attack at Istanbul airport

PIA has come forward to extend all out support to Turkish Airlines


News Desk June 29, 2016
The logo of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is seen in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 12, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

In one of the deadliest of four attacks to rock Istanbul this year, a triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Ataturk airport killed at least 36 people, including foreigners.

In this time of grief and confusion, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has come forward to extend all out support to Turkish Airlines. The national flag carrier has offered to transport passengers disturbed due to flight diversions in the aftermath of the terror incident.

At least 36 dead in Istanbul airport suicide attacks

“We are deeply sorry for this tragedy and as code share partners with Turkish Airlines we are ready to extend our all out support to them,” CEO PIA, Bernd Hildenbrand said, according to a press release.

The attackers began spraying bullets at the international terminal entrance before blowing themselves up at around 10:00 pm Tuesday, Turkish authorities said.

Though there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s carnage, “the evidence points to Daesh”, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told journalists at the scene, using another name for the extremists.

He said the dead included foreigners, but gave no further details. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag put the number of wounded at 147.

The attack prompted the suspension of all flights at the airport — one of Europe’s busiest hubs.

Hrithik Roshan was at Istanbul airport hours before deadly suicide bombings

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an international “joint fight” against terror, as Western allies including the United States condemned the “heinous” attack.

Yildirim said the suicide bombers had arrived in a taxi and opened fire on passengers with automatic rifles before blowing themselves up.

COMMENTS (20)

Rustam | 7 years ago | Reply @Hamid: While turkey is thankful for the gesture you are here to use such sad incident to score points. If you are really sincere go and write for your compatriots that are enslaved in India. it seems that you are ignorant to the extent that you do not know that India has the highest number of people trapped in slavery in the world at 18.35 million as reported in the 2016 Global Slavery Index released by Walk Free Foundation on May 28, 2016. Instead of posing nose here and there should not you give some time and work for the poor slaves in your own country.
Hamid | 7 years ago | Reply What a joke - Passenger waiting hall was bombed and not aeroplanes. If Pak planes able to pick up passengers from airport, the same thing could be done by Turkey also. Brainless to offer to fly on Turkish routes.
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