Shaheen Air flight lands safely after engine catches fire

E-Paper | March 16, 2026

ISLAMABAD: A Karachi-bound flight of Shaheen Air made an emergency landing at Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad on Tuesday after one of its engines caught fire soon after the take off.

Giving the details of the incident, a spokesman of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) told APP that a scheduled flight NL-122 of Shaheen Air took off at 1031 hours (local time) for Karachi from Islamabad Airport.

After take off, the pilot of the Boeing-737 aircraft noticed and reported fire in engine No.1 at 1036 hours (local time).

The pilot requested for priority landing which was given immediately and the aircraft landed at 1043 hours safely.

The plane was switched off at the runway and towed to the parking bay for a check-up.

He said that fire services of CAA were alerted to cope with any untoward incident. 174 passengers on board were disembarked safely.

No injures were reported in the incident.

When contacted, Shaheen Air officials did not divulge details of how the engine caught fire, but said that the plane landed safely.

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Waleed Ikram

Apr 21, 2015 02:41pm

Alhamdullilah every one is safe

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Saad

Apr 21, 2015 02:42pm

What is CAA doing? Who monitors condition of aircrafts operating in/from Pakistan? Its the second such incident in last week for Shaheen. Stop playing with people's lives. On a personal level, I request people of my country to please stop gambling with their lives and fly an international carrier where possible.

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Dinesh Singh

Apr 21, 2015 03:05pm

Still flying Boeing 737? They have outlived their life. Please do not risk human lives, discard these obsolete birds.

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saad s

Apr 21, 2015 03:07pm

thank God

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Sunil

Apr 21, 2015 03:14pm

Outdated aircraft 737. Need to be replaced.

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Raees Ahmad

Apr 21, 2015 03:42pm

It will happen so in presence of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi- owner of Air Blue.

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lafanga

Apr 21, 2015 03:46pm

Good that everyone is safe. Assuming it's the picture of the actual aircraft, it looks like to be the earliest generation of B737-200 aircraft. Most of these have already been retired elsewhere (latest is B737-800) so not sure why Pakistan CAA keeps issuing the airworthiness certificates to these dinosaurs. Switch to Airbus A320/319 for short haul flights. Very good and cost effective.

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Nasir Aziz

Apr 21, 2015 03:46pm

People who are calling 737 as outdated are probably ignorant of the aviation machines. 737 is the work horse for all the major airlines within the US. They are not outdated - please get your facts right. They are still being built and updated with newer technology constantly. Don't believe me? Then go and check their websites on fleet information.

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lafanga

Apr 21, 2015 03:47pm

@Sunil "Outdated aircraft 737. Need to be replaced" B737 is not outdated. It's the B737-200 variant in the picture that is outdated. B737-600 to 800 are still being flown around the world.

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kanakasabhai

Apr 21, 2015 03:48pm

Looks like Boeing 737 - 200 series which hardly flies anywhere.

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Imtiaz

Apr 21, 2015 03:50pm

Bravo, shabash

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khanman

Apr 21, 2015 03:59pm

@Sunil they have done new paintjob and also new seat covers to coup with word ""outdated""

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Nihal Cassim

Apr 21, 2015 04:14pm

well done pilot. God be praised.

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Arslan

Apr 21, 2015 04:29pm

It is shocking (:

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Rehmani

Apr 21, 2015 04:34pm

@Dinesh Singh Our People are great risk-takers. Let them enjoy their flights. 737 or 007, the main Thing is, These birds can fly. Besides, this is NOT the only plane, our PIA has many other outdated, defected and unrepaired planes that are still flying and carrying passengers from Country to Country.

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Rabia

Apr 21, 2015 04:39pm

Thank God everyone is ok, inspite of the fact that the plane was 'toed to the parking bay'

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Haya

Apr 21, 2015 04:49pm

Thank god every one is safe

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pilot

Apr 21, 2015 04:55pm

Shaheen flies -400 version of 737 aircraft. A total number of 486 Boeing 737-400 were delivered to airlines, some as recently as in 2000. Most of them are still flying all over the world. Sometimes 'Fire Warning Light' comes on without actual incidence of fire. The pilot is required to shut down and make a priority landing. No need to sensationalize the incident.

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Naxalite

Apr 21, 2015 05:05pm

We still got no clue what went wrong with Shaheen airline's aircraft that torn apart in midair back in 2010. These are definitely outdated aircrafts.

Recommend 0

Apr 21, 2015 05:15pm

@Rehmani, Are you sure to take risk of life? Can you take such risk if, it is matter of your own family? Country men are brother too so, how you can imagine this? They do have families and none will ask for help if, something happens to earning person in family.

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azi

Apr 21, 2015 05:17pm

There is nothing more then risking a human life knowingly, any aircraft with slightest possibility of malfunction should be grounded immediately. This is not a car if breaks down will come to stop ,you are at 40,000 feet above the ground normally.

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Abbas Ali

Apr 21, 2015 05:24pm

@Saad pls tell us the name of that airline.

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Aamir Khan

Apr 21, 2015 05:36pm

Heard the explosion. Was in university (FAST-ISB) at the time. Saw the aircraft heading back towards the airport afterwards.

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Viqar Khilji

Apr 21, 2015 06:12pm

CAA should order a general inspection of all planes being operated by Pakistani Airlines. Instead of inviting foriegn inspection teams, CAA should have a team in place to carry out timely inspections

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Arshad

Apr 21, 2015 06:41pm

Flying Coffin but no one take notice!

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bkt

Apr 21, 2015 06:56pm

This is an old model 737. You should see the ones Turkish Airways flies to London. The aircraft are small but they have big, round engines.

Recommend 0

mohammadali

Apr 21, 2015 07:43pm

It seems Shaheen purchased lemon planes from the second hand used lots.

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adnan

Apr 21, 2015 08:15pm

finished plane. now get another used and repaired engine. unfortunately civil/commercial aviation will only take off once pakistan is able to restart foreign tourism.... no chance otherwise thanks

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Hindutavi Rakshas

Apr 21, 2015 08:19pm

Dangerous ban these plain urgently and stop playing with lives for few dollars.

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Woz Ahmed

Apr 21, 2015 08:32pm

737-400s. All 20-22 years old, so within normal expected lifespan if maintained correctly. http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Shaheen-Air I wouldn't travel with them, but neither would I travel by PIA !

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john lee

Apr 21, 2015 08:58pm

again trouble with it

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syed wasim haider

Apr 21, 2015 10:46pm

A week ago Shahin planes were not allowed in Saudi Arabia because of technical reasons.Passenger must know the age of the aircraft.

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A Shah

Apr 21, 2015 10:50pm

Indian conspiracy?

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shami

Apr 21, 2015 10:59pm

This plane is atleat 40 years old. Time to rest him to peace.

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Marcus Thope

Apr 21, 2015 11:28pm

Apparently Pakistan Planes have been so poorly maintained that most airports around the world are reluctant on these planes landing or flying through their airspace as they are seen as flying petrol bombs. Can you believe once upon time it was the PIA that trained all the Middle Eastern and Far East hosting. National pride needs to be restored and those opportunistic money hungry corrupt individuals need to be sent the k2 for a hiking trip.

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Ajamal

Apr 22, 2015 07:35am

@Sunil. Certificate of Airworthiness is issued by the Boeing Co.

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umer

Apr 22, 2015 01:51pm

Well done pilot

Recommend 0

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