On rejection, pilot makes purser fly back to Pakistan from Birmingham as a passenger on a separate plane. PHOTO: FILE.
On rejection, captain pilot Riffat Hey of PK791 refused to acknowledge the purser Ghulam Mustafa as aircraft manager and made him fly back to Pakistan from Birmingham as a passenger on a separate plane.
The purser – who was travelling back to Pakistan without a visa – was arrested by the immigration officials at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA). Aircraft workers generally do not need to have a visa when they are travelling on international flights, but in this instance, the purser was on the plane as a normal passenger.
After his arrest, the purser informed PIA management about the incident.
Sexual harassment
Earlier in March this year, Hey had appeared before the Supreme Court alleging that female staff of the national carrier were being sexually harassed and subsequently victimised by the higher management.
“Harassment and subsequent victimisation is rampant in PIA. I am not the only staff member who has faced such problems. I am alone in only speaking against the problem,” asserted Hey.
Hey had claimed that she was being targeted after she complained about the attitude of two male pilots. “I brought my problem into the notice of the higher management of PIA but no action was taken; instead the management started targeting me and hurdles were being created in my promotion,” she said.
COMMENTS (83)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1729662874-0/One-Direction-(1)1729662874-0-165x106.webp "article")
1726722687-0/Express-Tribune-Web-(9)1726722687-0-270x192.webp "cm maryam nawaz orders distribution of laptops within 90 days")
Hi there,
First of all my tribute to the flight purser & airhostess for standing against the immoral and unethical flight drivers (oh i mean pilots!!).
I even recal while I was travelling on a local flight from islamabad to Karachi about 13 years ago, and noticed a pilot (who was allegedly late on flight as well) checked the entire cabin crew and asking flight purser to send a specific airhostess in the cockpet to make him comfortable throughout his one hour and fifty minutes flight. I remembered, the poor airhostess, was absolutely scarred but reluctently accepted the orderes.
All I can say that to the management and people of Pakistan to please please accept the 100% privatisation option of this great organisation (PIA) and guarantee a secured future. Otherwise, these pilots, politicians and army will completely shut PIA, and I mean, sooner.
All the best to PIA purser & airhostess who are fighting against bullying pilots.
Continuesly name is being quoted is wrong.,even in the news paper. It shows how much true news are reaching to people without any authentication. He is Capt riffat Saeed. He has some history of this kind of demands. If now action is going to taken against him, it will be good for all of the cabin crew.
Continuesly name is being quoted is wrong.,even in the news paper. It shows how much true news are reaching to people without any authentication. He is Capt riffat Saeed. He has some history of this kind of demands. If now action is going to taken against him, it will be good for all if the cabin crew.
His real Name is Riffat Saeed Akhter and he is a male pilot of PIA. I have heard many disgraceful stories of him just like this. He is famous all over PIA because of his stupid and immoral behaviour.
PIA pilot & Pak Army Generals hv same higher authority. No one again no one can challenge them. This is not first case normally Pilot asked the sch deptt for their favourite crew to accompany on their flight espacially on long stay flight and where they enjoy and if some one refuse to obey the order then DE-Briefing ( which is consider your ACR ) and you are punished before any crime by romoving from bread earning flight you have to do only local flights with very low allowance. Pilot is God Father only in PIA, managers, directors or even MD have no auth to remove them due to very very strong union PALPA
The problem with us is that we only know part of the story what did the Supreme Court say? This woman has been difficult to deal with alway her friends capt saleem ahmed and capt am khan saeed ahmed Naveed aziz are all retired of on the verge of retirement like her (she is 59) so now she wants an extension on her LPR ( leave prior to retirement) and has used her female card wherever she can
Why did Ghulam Mustafa need a visa to enter his own home country, Pakistan. What country is he a citizen of?
Tribune putting a wrong headline against the pilot who is a female pilot of the plane and complained about harassment before!
@S Lee: Thank you for putting the case in its proper perspective. Riffat Saeed should have been relieved from further services and the airhostess in question should be reassigned to ground duty to make sure Pilots are not lead astray.
I have never read such a convoluted and stupid story -- that has invited a flood of responses.
Male or female, why was the flight attendant required to be "stationed" in the cockpit?
A cockpit is a place where serious business is conducted and not where scores are settled.
This would not have happened if Pakistan were to follow true Islam and not permit air hostesses without burkhas in front of non mehrams. A uncovered, pretty air hostess in close quarters with males will cause the men to have irresistable urges and go astray.
I have served two European airlines for more than 30 years in the Middle East. Long ago I had an offer from PIA Manchester for a job. Since, I was a visitor to Manchester, I consulted my uncle about this offer. His reply was: " Baita jee ! PIA may job nahi karna.Aur kisi bhi airline may karo". PIA's staff is no different than a common Pakistani. Most of the PIA staff is corrupt and rude. I have met several PIA passengers coming from Pakistan. They pay bribe to the staff for their excess baggage while flying from Pakistan to Canada. I hope some one will come out and kick out the corrupt people from Pakistan's national airline. It is no more a "Great people to fly with".
Perhaps a Movie of the cadre of "Waar" could resurrect our Flag Carrier's immaculate virginity ,it once boasted.....any takers?
The pilot was a lady:)
This is bad reporting gives bad name to the media ,ET should apologize to the Pilot for wrong reporting.
@Syed A. Mateen:
Please read what's being written Riffat Hey is a female pilot - she's a woman. Over 80 people liked that comment, its hilarious.
ET to be blamed reporting news without facts. This is our country,our media and people they will comment on any thing . This is our way of life.
MORONs, Riffat is FEMALE.
@LSE: The purser – who was travelling back to Pakistan without a visa – was arrested by the immigration officials at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA). Aircraft workers generally do not need to have a visa when they are travelling on international flights, but in this instance, the purser was on the plane as a normal passenger.
It is so funny, people making all sorts of judgements without knowing the facts, very stereotypical of our society - to have an opinion about everything - e.g. by looking at someone we also judged whether or not someone is 'Thurkee'. ET should have done due diligence, but for the record there is a Capt. Riffat Saeed (male) and there is also a Capt. Riffat Hey (Haye) who is a female, and both fly for PIA.
@Syed A. Mateen:
You must be illiterate. The pilot was a female, read the article again. before carrying out judgement.
PIA = Redefining failure and lowest human standards.
Wow, I must say the people commenting here are equally nuts like the PIA itself. Bhai Riffat aik Auntie hain, it would have been better if they had posted a picture of Riffat auntie. And ET, what kind of moderation are you doing when you can't filter HE/SHE conflict in comments.
Lolzz, English is a phunny language!! =)
Shameful reporting. Not even the moderator of the posts knew that Riffat is actually Mrs Riffat..!
Number 1. People don't get the names wrong, The captain is the lady Number 2. Just don't jump to the conclusions bcoz of Ur -ve or +ve perceptions Number 3. Utilise your energy on whatever positive Thank you.....
I am the eye witnessed of this whole situation as I was traveling on this plane. Just to let you know the pilot was a MALE not a FEMALE. The false report is that pilot got the pursor arrested at the BHX airport not in Pakistan as I was in the passenger lounge while this happened. However, he was set free by the border force and police as he showed them the hard copy of what captain edited by using his authority. The Captain's name was announced as RIFFAT SAEED not Riffat Hey on the plane. This newspapers need to get its facts right. 1, the pursor was arrested at BHX but set free not ISB Airport. 2, Captain is a MALE and his name is RIFFAT SAEED. And people who are saying purso had the link with the journalist I would doubt it because of the false facts. People say not to judge by the looks but the Captain did look THURKI. It's a shame that how in Pakistan people like him uses their authority for all the wrong reasons.
People like him should definitely be FIRED!
You all got it wrong because of ET's fault at wrongly naming the pilot. The correct name is Captain Riffat Saeed (see on Facebook PIA site) and indeed he IS a male, (just for the record) Capt Riffat Haye was not involved in this case, she is a female (@ Touseef Ikram) and 59 years old. She is quoted here as she had already filed a case against harassment rampant in PIA. However there are two versions on that as well, some say she misused the law as she is well connected (google Bisma Ahmed's article).
@Touseef Ikram: Yes, ET's fault at wrongly writing the name. The correct name is Captain Riffat Saeed, and he IS a male, (Just for the record), Captain Rifat Haye was not involved in this case, who is a female pilot and 59 years old.
Mrs Riffat Haye (not Hey) was the flight Captain. She commands the aircraft and everyone on it. The Purser was asked to send the air hostess because the Purser was harassing the female. It is utterly amazing how readers jump to strange biased conclusions. I back Mrs Riffat to the hilt. The Purser is the same one who has been in trouble before.
The readers write their comments whatever is reported in the contents of the news.
The readers of ET does not have that much time to first go the Google Search String and put the name of the person to check whether he is a male or she is female.
There are too many common names in Pakistan e.g. Riffat, which is also the name of men and women simultaneously.
Had the name "Nargis" mentioned in the report instead of "Riffat" the readers and writers of the comments would have easily made out whether it is the name of a male or female?
However, the name of the Persur was quite clear and one can easily make out that it was the name of a male, not of female.
LOL - you think that would happen on any other international carrier? Time to pull the plug on PIA - plenty of quality airlines will fill the demand without all the drama or govt funding.
Do the readers realize before putting the accusations, that the captain was a lady. Not much difference vis-a-vis a heard of sheep and this nation.
One wonders what would have happened to the poor Air hostess if left alone with the Purser ...now days most of PIA flights are empty with lots of seats vacant ..in fact whole sections of the plane are unoccupied .Good job Captain Hey
@Syed A. Mateen: This news is very confusing! the pilot was a female lady. she went to the court and talked about sexual harrasment in PIA.. the pursor is a male who didnt listen to her and was sent in a different plane!
It's so hilarious:
PIA is run by the same people who are running the country. What we can expect from the corrupt and idiotic people who are running the show. God bless Pakistan and save the nation from these corrupt people.
@M.Emad....this news is not related to 1971 ....
@ All Commentators My earlier comment was based on the understanding that Riffat is a "male" since the complaints against harassment by males are quite rampant in Pakistan. In the instant case (& after the clarification of Riffat as female) the purser seems to be at fault. Nonetheless rest of the comment still holds water: ""PIA is incurring a loss of Rs 36 Billion every year since these people consider PIA as their personal fiefdom without even caring about the reputation of national institution or the bailouts these vultures are eating away from taxpayer money!""
@Syed A. Mateen: In this case the pilot is a 'she' not a 'he'.
@Reader: Not complying with a PIA pilot is ow a crime in UK? What grounds could he have the purser arrested?
Captain Riffat Hay is a female captain aged around 55. She probably wanted to keep an air hostess from harassment by the purser. Its funny to see how most of us responded assuming captain was a male trying to exploit the air-hostess and purser was victimized because he did not approve of that and had to fly back on a separate plane. Also feels like ET deliberately wrote this post like this.
MRS. RIFFAT HEY is absolutely right !! Also Shows how 'extra clever' male Readers react to News.
"The purser – who was travelling back to Pakistan without a visa – was arrested..."
Is this an ET issue with the reporting? Why would a Pakistani (the purser) need a visa to enter his own country?
This article has been updated from the one I read earlier. The detail about Riffat Haye and Supreme Court were just not there earlier. It just read "...PIA captain Riffat ....."
Perhaps ET should include a small blurb saying that article was updated from previous one, so as not to mislead the public and the people posting comments.
PIA Pilots have bad eyes on even female passengers so how their female crew member can be safe from them ?
It's so telling, how the majority has assumed that Capt. Riffat is a man.
@Syed A. Mateen: Hello???! Riffat Hey is a female pilot captain. She was probably doing this to protect the said air hostess from harassment by the purser.
Its funny that NO ONE noticed that Riffat Haye is a FEMALE pilot..... http://twosouthasiannation.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/pakistani-woman-pilot.html
over 46 recommendations on a baseless unauthentic comment and many such like comments and recommendations. we as a nation mostly hesitate to see or think by ourselves and just keep on hitting whatever we like. Capt. Rifat Haye is a very inspirational LADY pilot of PIA (unfortunately).
over 46 recommendations on a baseless unauthentic comment and many such like comments and recommendations. we as a nation do not see and think by ourselves and just keep on hitting whatever we like. Capt. Rifat Haye is a very inspirational LADY pilot of PIA (unfortunately).
only after reaching last paragraph 'Hey had claimed that she was being targeted after she complained...' i became evident that riffat hey is actually a female and not a male. ET try to uplift the level.
@NK. Fully agree. ET - this news appears a pure gossip with hearsay from various with no idependent journalistic work... Could you explain; How a PIA purser can travel back to pakistan without visa??
The barraging comments depict how stupidly we take such precedence. Without even prudently interpreting what the facts are, people start passing their verdicts and a good number of people 'recommending' these silly comments. Reminds me of stories and verdicts of ever popular "Charbat Raja"
@Syed A. Mateen: It is aptly named as cockpit for such pilots!
@Syed A. Mateen: For your un/kind information, Riffat Hey is a female pilot and she has been a victim of sexual harassment. Free Advice - Read it carefully before rushing into a RUBBISH comment. Thanks
Perhaps ET needs to do a better job of clarifying that Riffat Haye is actually a female, not a male pilot. Seems like 99% of the reader's didn't get the fact that the pilot is actually a she. On the other hand, people need to re-read the article with open eyes before jumping to any conclusions. At least search on google, Riffat Haye was interview by UN Women!
lolz Shafqat you Nailed It!!
"Riffat Hey is a female captain who refused to acknowledge the purser Ghulam Mustafa as an Aircraft manager..."
No one read the article but they did start commenting. I guess the concept of a female pilot is so alien to people here that it never crossed their mind.
@Muslim Leaguer:
"You people need to re-read the article; perhaps with your eyes open this time. Riffat Hey is a female captain." well said by Shafqat
@Syed A. Mateen:
For your information pilot is not HE, SHE IS FEMALE. Search on the google for CAPTAIN RIFAT HAYE, you will understand everything hopefully.
Just to clear up a misconception that everyone seems to have, Captain Riffat Hey is a woman.
You people need to re-read the article; perhaps with your eyes open this time.
Riffat Hey is a female captain.
"Hey had claimed that she was being targeted after she complained about the attitude of two male pilots. “I brought my problem into the notice of the higher management of PIA but no action was taken; instead the management started targeting me and hurdles were being created in my promotion,” she said." ( Extract from the article)
@M. Emad: at least try to behave like human
@Reader: Ahem, i don't dispute the pilot's authority, WHILE the plane is in the air, but you seem to have missed the point in this news story.
But now I am seriously worried about flying PIA. What was the pilot this Riffat fellow, planning to do in the cockpit with this airhostess that made him so mad ?
@M. Emad: I think you could link it to Wright Brothers as well. Pathetic.
Capt. Riffat is a Lady Pilot . Not a Man.
One sided story. Seems like purser had a some journalist friend in ET and trying to take revenge of a personal matter with pilot by using "investigative journalism". Its very strange that ET stating "refused to acknowledge him as aircraft manager", at least the journalist should have a knowledge before reporting that pilot/captain is the highest authority in an aircraft. Poor reporting ET, typical sizzling story, pilot <-> air hostess
During 1971 East Pakistan (Bangladesh) Genocide Pakistan Army killed many PIA Bengali pilots and air/ground staffs. Bengalis were kept out of duty in 1971. Most of the 'missings' were picked up and just vanished for ever.
Once promising PIA never recovered after 1971,
Pilots legally have control over cabin crew placement, also the captain is the highest authority in a plane no matter even if the president is on board, the captain was totally in his rights to disembark a purser who refuses to comply with his orders, infact the pilots could even have had him arrested at birmingham if they wanted for refusing to comply.
OOOOh !.......the hardships of being a PIA pilot.
Only two reply to such story means our priorities are different. Had this been against a certain political party of had any thing to religion, the number of replies would have been significantly higher.
Why the manager wanted her in crew cabin and was reluctant to deploy her in cockpit? Love triangle aren't limited to bollywood movies now..
This Pilot needs to fired straight away!
so the news is complete? what aciions did the management take?
Probably the pilot Riffat of PK 791 wanted to have a date with the air hostess ;) Not even the Daewoo bus drivers behave like this... It is the time to start disciplinary proceedings against this lusty pilot. PIA is incurring a loss of Rs 36 Billion every year since these people consider PIA as their personal fiefdom without even caring about the reputation of national institution or the bailouts these vultures are eating away from taxpayer money!