PIA crew detained for five hours in New York for carrying contraband

Customs discovered cigarette cartons and mobile phones in their luggage. PIA is investigating the incident.

NEW YORK: Crew members of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) that touched down in New York on January 31, did not know that some cigarettes and mobile phones would land them in hot waters.

When PIA flight 721 landed at New York's JFK, after journeying from Lahore, with a passenger drop off, refuel at Manchester, England, every one disembarked as normal. Going through customs was mundane, till security officials started unearthing large quantities of cigarettes and mobile phones in the luggage of some of the crew members, Express News reported on Wednesday.

The crew members were subsequently detained for five hours before they were allowed to leave empty handed, their contraband confiscated.

PIA's media advisor Tahir Khalique said that an inquiry has been initiated into the incident while the crew members involved will not be sent on international routes any more. Some sources claimed that PIA had to face a fine over the incident.

Earlier this month, two PIA air hostesses had been suspended after they failed to turn up for duty while on an international flight.