PIA flight avoids mid-air emergency en route to Dubai

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi to Dubai successfully managed an in-flight emergency near Muscat, that lead to a swift descent of 26,000 feet in just six minutes, according to the airline’s spokesperson.

Flight PK-213, which departed Karachi at 2:05 AM, encountered a hydraulic system malfunction over Muscat. The pilot promptly declared an emergency and coordinated with Muscat Air Traffic Control (ATC) and radar.

The pilot’s expertise helped in addressing the hydraulic issue mid-flight, and the aircraft continued safely at a lower altitude of 10,000 feet.

The flight landed in Dubai without incident, completing its journey after an hour at the reduced altitude.

Upon arrival, the Airbus A320 was inspected and cleared for its next flights to Islamabad and Skardu.

The spokesperson, talking to a local news paper, said that PIA is currently managing a shortage of aircraft parts due to administrative issues

Pakistan's aviation protocols have come under intense scrutiny since 2020, following a scandal that revealed around 262 out of 860 active Pakistani pilots had allegedly obtained fraudulent licenses.

This discovery led to the grounding of approximately 150 pilots from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other airlines.

The issue came to light after the tragic crash of PIA flight PK-8303 in Karachi on May 22, 2020.

The incident resulted in the suspension of PIA's operations in the European Union (EU) and several other regions, sparking widespread calls for regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing safety standards and ensuring greater transparency within the aviation sector.