KARACHI: A Fly Jinnah flight on Monday made an emergency landing at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said, adding all passengers and crew members safely off-loaded from the plane.
The flight, FL-846, left Karachi in the country’s south for the eastern city of Lahore on Monday evening, according to the (PAA).
The captain reported smoke in the cargo compartment and gave a ‘mayday’ call at 7:15 near Lahore.
“Fly Jinnah flight, FL-846, safely landed at the Lahore at 7:23 pm,” the PAA said in a statement. “[Officials of] the Airport Authority’s Fire Department were present on the spot to deal with any emergency as per the SOPs (standard operating procedures).”
All passengers and crew were safely offloaded through emergency exit of the plane and at 7:57pm, the fire department cleared the plane following an inspection, according to the PAA.
Officials have ordered an investigation into the incident.
Pakistan’s aviation protocols have faced significant scrutiny since 2020 following a scandal wherein approximately 262 out of 860 active Pakistani pilots were said to have obtained fake licenses, leading to the grounding of around 150 pilots from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other carriers.
The revelation came in the wake of the tragic crash of a PIA flight, PK-8303, in Karachi on May 22, 2020, resulting in the suspension of PIA’s operations in the European Union (EU) and other regions and prompting calls for regulatory reforms to improve safety standards and transparency.
Fly Jinnah flight makes emergency landing in Lahore, all passengers and crew safe
https://arab.news/gfh38
Fly Jinnah flight makes emergency landing in Lahore, all passengers and crew safe
- The plane made emergency landing after the captain reported smoke in its cargo compartment
- Pakistan’s aviation protocols have faced significant scrutiny since a PIA plane crash in 2020
UAE president wraps first official Pakistan visit with talks on trade and regional issues
- Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets escort Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s aircraft as it enters the country’s airspace
- The two countries discuss cooperation in energy, investment, technology and people-to-people exchanges
ISLAMABAD: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, on Friday paid his first official visit to Pakistan since assuming office, holding talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that focused on deepening economic cooperation and regional coordination, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The visit, undertaken at Sharif’s invitation, comes as Pakistan seeks to strengthen ties with Gulf partners and attract foreign investment to support its economy.
The visiting leader arrived at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, where he was received by Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and senior members of the federal cabinet. His aircraft was escorted by a formation of JF-17 fighter jets as it entered Pakistani airspace, and he was accorded a 21-gun salute.
“Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held substantive talks with the Prime Minister,” the official statement circulated at the end of his visit said. “Both sides underscored the importance of expanding collaboration in economic cooperation, investment, energy, infrastructure development, IT, technology and people-to-people exchanges.”
“They also agreed on the need to enhance bilateral trade, which had great potential for mutually beneficial growth,” it added.
The statement said the two leaders also exchanged views on important regional and international developments and reaffirmed their shared commitment to continue close coordination on matters of mutual interest.
Islamabad was decorated with Pakistani and Emirati flags and large billboards ahead of the visit, while the capital observed a public holiday as authorities rolled out traffic restrictions.
State-run broadcasters and private television channels aired footage of the UAE president’s arrival and ceremonial reception.
Pakistan considers the UAE one of its closest regional and economic partners. The Gulf state is Islamabad’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States and a major source of foreign investment, with Emirati investment in Pakistan exceeding $10 billion over the past two decades, according to the UAE’s foreign ministry.
Pakistani policymakers also view the UAE as an important export destination due to its geographical proximity, which reduces transportation and freight costs.
