A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 jet was detained in Kuala Lumpur on May 29, due to unresolved dues owed to a leasing company, AerCap Holdings NV. The unexpected impoundment led to the unfortunate stranding of passengers, necessitating the deployment of a substitute aircraft for their pick up.
The airline’s spokesperson, Abdullah Hafeez Khan, revealed in a statement that a Malaysian court issued the seizure order at the request of the lessor. He insisted that the disputed charges had already been settled, and vowed to explore legal options to regain the aircraft.
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The financially beleaguered, state-owned PIA has faced two such incidents in the last two years, emphasising its ongoing struggle to steady its fiscal ship. The situation has been exacerbated since 2020 when the European Union placed a ban on PIA’s flight operations over allegations of fraudulent pilot licenses.
The lessor, AerCap Holdings NV, has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Based on the news reported by NDTV.
