A recent incident involving a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Dubai to Multan created a tense situation when all its tires burst during takeoff. The Airbus A320, carrying 172 passengers, had to abort its departure due to this unexpected technical fault.
Incident Details:
- Technical Fault: As the aircraft sped down the runway, an engine malfunction warning was triggered. The PIA spokesperson reported that the captain quickly engaged the emergency brakes, successfully bringing the plane to a sudden stop. However, this abrupt action caused all the tires to burst.
- Passenger Safety: Following the incident, passengers were promptly evacuated and moved to the airport lounge for their safety.
- Engineering Response: To address the situation, a PIA engineering team was dispatched from Karachi to Dubai on a flight later that night (between Monday and Tuesday) to fix the aircraft.
- Alternate Arrangements: In the meantime, PIA management arranged alternate travel for the passengers. Some will be flown to Lahore on PIA flight PK 204 from Dubai, while others will travel from Sharjah to Multan.
Read More: Dubai-Bound PIA Flight Faces Hydraulic System Malfunction
Privatization Plans:
In a related development, the Pakistani government is advancing its plans to privatize PIA. The Privatisation Commission has recently extended the bidding deadline by a month, now set for October 31, 2024, according to ARY News.
- Upcoming Dates: The draft agreement is expected to be signed on October 25, 2024, with advance payments due by October 28, 2024. This delay surprised many interested companies and raised concerns regarding the privatization process.
- Reason for Extension: Although the Privatisation Commission has not provided clarity on the reason for the extension, initial deposits were anticipated by September 27. Aviation sources caution that this shift may complicate the overall process.
- Interested Bidders: Despite the delay, six private companies are still in the running for PIA’s privatization, including Blue World City, Air Blue, Arif Habib, Fly Jinnah, Pak Ethanol, and YB Holdings.
This incident underscores ongoing challenges for PIA as it navigates operational difficulties and the broader implications of its privatization efforts.
