In violation of the airline's rules, Captain Faisal reportedly tried to fly his son on an infant's ticket in the cockpit of the international flight.
According to sources, the pilot managed to take his son to Manchester but the automated system at the airport was not able to issue a boarding pass to the son.
The pilot told the administration that he will pay for his son's ticket after which the administration issued the boarding pass manually, sources said.
The father and son have managed to reach New York.
Pakistan Air Line Pilots' Association (Palpa) is reportedly pressurising the airline's administration not to start an inquiry against the pilot.
PIA's stance
A PIA spokesperson said that the management had no information related to any pilot’s misconduct on flight PK721, which was headed for New York on July 22.
"Nothing has been reported and no inquiry is underway regarding the violation of rules by one Captain Faisal," the spokesperson said.
The PIA official said there was no captain by the name of Faisal. However, there are six first officers, one of whom travelled on that flight as a passenger with his family.
Officials were trying to find out if there was any substance to the news report.
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@Shakil Khan:
Have your fact straight. This is about "PILOT" not passenger. In US, it is unheard of a pilot flying a plane with infant ih his lap. I am sure FAA will not let that happen and pilot be fired.
Under two fly free while 2 years has to pay half the amount. The pilot being a crew member would require only a fraction to pay like taxes only. He wanted to save that too! Why pay the govt anything when you can steal it? He should be heavily fined to make an example out of all the others who are cannibalizing PIA.
@Shakil Khan: Children under the age of two traveling within the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands with a parent or with an adult 18 years or older can travel on the adult’s lap free of charge
You want the child to sit on the father's lap when he is flying the plane?
We all are corrupt, what to talk about such issue.....we do not want to leave any opportunity to seek any benefit to get any work done out of line.......do we ? Think before criticizing any particular dept , person or institution.....we all part of the society, hence we are all part of the corrupted system.
At least he didn't put him in a dog kennel and have him fly as cargo. Also ... I assume he was sober when he made this poor decision?
Most PIA employs are used to free first class vacations for their entire families. It is not surprising they are losing money as the highest revenue generating seats are taken over by the free-loaders.
not a news at all. Ordinary Pakistanis do it all the time.
PIA has become Papa's Infant Airline. Great Way to Fly Little Baby.
In a country where head of the state sets an example of taking extending family and friends on a free religious/fun vacation trip on a 777 abroad, a 2 year old child going with PIA-employeed father can be ignored! If not.. then no one is above the law!
@yellow: BTW what name are we trying to save? PIA has been in violation of many CAA and airlines rules, they have been threatened with confiscation of aircrafts, cargo delivery via PIA to EU have been stopped. What is there to save?
Children under the age of two traveling within the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands with a parent or with an adult 18 years or older can travel on the adult's lap free of charge
another food for thought, Captain can invite anyone into cockpit as in-charge of plane!
so what you guys think 2 year old is not an infant? more of internal political gimmick and in the process you damage your national airline! Bravo!
Nothing could be done against the pilot as his union will be there to save him just like other criminals destroying this airline
Now one knows why PIA is loosing money and public is paying for the in-efficiency of the PIA gang Privitize PIA,sell it off for $1
Oh old your fires the champions of justice........Piolts famililies travel free as a perk of their job .....THINK!
Do some work! Stop criticising others! None of you have done anything for this country that you should be proud!
As per rules of most leading airlines children of PIA employees should also not be allowed to travel in First/Club class what to talk of travelling in the restricted area of the cockpit . Regarding this topic well after all the pilot is a human and could have forgotten his child's birthday. I am sure local media in Manchester will once again have a juicy story related to PIA.
Lets not jump to conclusions. Most airlines would consider 8 days to 23 months infant, and it may stir confusion if a border line case. Actually, it's a pity to see typical vigilante mentality of Pakistanis commenting on this post, rather than PIA who were not even asked for a defence.
So now Palpa will threaten to boycott if their "on of us" is taken to accountability, eh!
And they want to hush up the matter. PALPA is pressurizing the admin not to take action. All birds of the same feather, traitors to the airline and to the country. What a shameful airline who does not even care about the reputation of the country. This is not an isolated case. Even previously, a ticketless passenger was travelling in the cockpit, someone related to the pilot.
@george: "If the pilot has violated the rule, he should be penalized otherwise it will set an example for future violations."
There was a chance for the airline to recoup its reputation by maintaining supremacy of the law but if reports can be relied upon, "Pakistan Air Line Pilots’ Association (Palpa) is reportedly pressurising the airline’s administration not to start an inquiry against the pilot." PALPA's stance will confirm, how PIA has deteriorated right to the bottom of the core. Pity.
If their boss decides not to resign, at least they should back off.
Proud to Fly With????
@george: "If the pilot has violated the rule, he should be penalized otherwise it will set an example for future violations."
There was some hope for the supremacy of the law but if reports can be relied upon, "Pakistan Air Line Pilots’ Association (Palpa) is reportedly pressurising the airline’s administration not to start an inquiry against the pilot." thus it is going to confirm how PIA has deteriorated right from bottom of the core. Pity.
How on earth did the pilot manage to take his infant son into the cockpit of the plane.In countries where law-is-law an infant is disallowed to sit in front seats with the parents and they are considered as criminals if they happen to do so.The more shameful part of the story is that the colleagues of the pilot want to not press the charges against him.When will they ever learn
It is precisely these kind of people who have brought such a bad name for this country. This pilot must be fired.
Pakistanis do what no one else can come close imagining, truly ba kamal log
It is not for lack of funds that he did so. The nation is plagued with such persons who foolishly think they can get away with looting anything, even in the West.
The pilot should be fired for maligning the name of Pakistan & PIA
If the pilot has violated the rule, he should be penalized otherwise it will set an example for future violations.