PESHAWAR: The special police unit in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday claimed to have arrested an alleged suspect involved in firing shots at a commercial PIA aircraft last year in June at the Bacha Khan International Airport, killing a woman passenger.

Police arrested Noor Muhammad alias Yar Muhammad on Friday from Peshawar's Ring Road area after receiving a tip off from security agencies.

Authorities claimed that during initial investigation, the accused had confessed to firing multiple gunshots at PIA's Boeing PK-756 as it was landing at the Bacha Khan International Airport in June 2014.

An FIR has been registered in Badabair Police Station against the shooter, police said, adding that the suspect will be handed over to the concerned police station.

Know more: Target: Airport

PK-756 was coming from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Peshawar with 196 passengers on board when it was attacked by unidentified gunmen on June 24, while landing at the airport, killing a woman and injuring two flight stewards on board.

Airline officials said the gunmen had aimed specifically at the highly flammable fuel tank as they sought to blow up the aircraft, as well as the cockpit, to kill the pilot.

Army and police personnel conducted a search operation and arrested over 100 suspects after the attack.

Earlier last year, security forces and police jointly carried out a raid in Suleman Khel area of Peshawar on intelligence information and arrested Waliullah, a militant commander of Dara Adam Khel associated with the Shahid Group working under the umbrella of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in connection with firing on the PIA plane.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...