Tragedy averted: PIA flight narrowly avoids collision with jets

E-Paper | October 07, 2026

Tragedy averted: PIA flight narrowly avoids collision with jets

Khalil Ahmed Published September 12, 2014

QUETTA: A Quetta-bound PIA flight travelling from Karachi almost collided with two fighter jets on Friday, but the tragedy was averted just in time, with the plane landing safely in Balochistan's provincial capital following the incident.

Flight PK-368 was close to landing at the airport in Quetta when the two fighter jets appeared but the PIA pilot acted quickly and managed to prevent the collision.

The plane which was carrying over 100 passengers received two shocks and after the collision was averted remained in mid-air for 30 minutes, landing only after receiving clearance from airport authorities.

The plane has been taken on wet lease Jordan and its crew is also from the country.

The situation was caused by a mistake from a radar operator at Quetta airport which is adjacent to the Samungli air force base.

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Moiz Omar

Sep 12, 2014 02:42pm

Good job by the pilot.

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IBN E ASHFAQUE

Sep 12, 2014 03:24pm

PAF need to work out some flight procedures with PIA in Quetta Samugli. This is serious for both PIA and PAF.

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Ali

Sep 12, 2014 03:24pm

Why this has happened once the flight schedules are circulated on daily basis to ATC and ATC should ensure the flight altitudes as well as the flight area, when the jet fighter is in the air. The commercial aircraft are on their designated route, then why the fighter jets comes so close, it should be thoroughly investigated and bring the facts on ground, so any fatal incident should be avoided in the future.

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anees zaidvi

Sep 12, 2014 03:33pm

PIA and narrow escapes go together.

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asif

Sep 12, 2014 03:55pm

Thank the Jordanian crew, and pilot.

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khan

Sep 12, 2014 04:45pm

Thank God. PIA is a good airline with great capabilities but is being run by unqualified and corrupt people. If run the right way it can again become a very safe and profitable airline.

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Sep 12, 2014 05:08pm

Shouldn't the quicker, more agile fighter jets have done the aversion instead of a lumbering airliner?

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Israr Khan Ismailzai

Sep 12, 2014 07:51pm

I don't know how this country is running all together. Like the govt, like the institutions.

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Chaya

Sep 13, 2014 12:51am

@IBN E ASHFAQUE Read carefully.the plane and crew is on lease from Jordon.

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Syed Kamal

Sep 14, 2014 07:23pm

I am glad that a disaster was avoided. As to its causes and responsibility only God knows. Can't expect PIA or PAF to tell the truth. That is the culture, that is the custom. Offending parties got off by blaming an unnamed grunt for it.

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