Islamabad: A major accident was averted when a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight suffered an engine malfunction and all of its tyres burst while aborting takeoff at Dubai International Airport. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, was carrying 172 passengers from Dubai to Multan, as per local news reports.
All passengers were safely evacuated from the flight. A PIA spokesperson confirmed that the plane was accelerating on the runway when a warning of an engine malfunction was received. In response, the captain activated the emergency brake system, bringing the plane to a safe stop. However, the sudden braking caused all the tyres to burst.
Moments after the incident, PIA’s engineering department dispatched a team from Karachi to Dubai on a flight early Tuesday. Meanwhile, the airline rescheduled flights for the affected passengers. Some were accommodated on PIA flight PK 204 from Dubai to Lahore tonight, while others will be flown from Sharjah to Multan.
This incident follows another technical failure just two days ago, when a PIA flight from Muscat (Oman) to Peshawar had to be diverted to Karachi due to a hydraulic failure detected on the aircraft.
PIA has been struggling financially, burdened by approximately USD 2.9 billion in debt. Despite receiving multiple government bailout packages, the airline continues to face financial difficulties. The government is currently working to privatize the airline, with six bidders pre-qualified for the sale.
However, the privatisation process has faced multiple delays, with the most recent extension granted for deposits until October 1. Aviation experts warn that such delays could negatively impact the privatization efforts. The move to privatise PIA is part of recommendations by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Pakistan to sell loss-making state-owned enterprises to stabilize its economy. These recent accidents further complicate efforts to regain public trust during a time when PIA is placing a heavy financial burden on the national exchequer.
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