PIA flight from Multan to Karachi grounded as 'precautionary measure'

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday said flight PK-581 from Multan to Karachi was delayed due to some technical issues.

Earlier, some media reports suggested that an engine of the ATR aircraft of PIA had caught fire, while the national flag carrier categorically denied any such report.

"Contrary to media reports neither of the two engines caught fire and pilots on the advice of ATC, decided not to take off and brought the plane back to the parking bay," reads a PIA statement.

A team of engineers was sent to Multan and aircraft would be made operational after its clearance, the statement said, adding, "On the directions of COO PIA, the plane has been temporarily grounded as a precautionary measure."

Passengers coming from outstation were being provided hotel accommodation till the next available flight, said the statement.

Meanwhile, sources told DawnNews that Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Air Marshal Retd Asim Salman has directed PIA to ground all its ATR aircrafts for inspection.

Pakistan

ATR aircraft are 'very safe': Experts

ATR team to come to Pakistan, help investigate PK-661 crash: aviation sources

PIA flight PK-661 crashes enroute to Islamabad, no survivors

naveed,usa

Dec 12, 2016 01:14am

Nobody speaks the truth in Pakistan on any matter.Only people play games,especially politicians.

Recommend 0

Sukhera

Dec 12, 2016 01:34am

This is a very wise decision by the Civil Aviation Authority Director General Air Marshal Retd Asim Salman to ground all the ATR planes until we find out the cause of air crash of PK flight 661 from Chitral. The director should also contact the engine manufacturer and the ATR to review our maintenance procedures and make sure they meet the international standards. Our technical staff must be certified by the ATR and the engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney.

Recommend 0

Concerned citizen

Dec 12, 2016 01:42am

Why would they ground a plane as a precautionary measure? Seems like the pia administration is not divulging all the facts.

Recommend 0

Shah

Dec 12, 2016 02:25am

As usual PIA hiding the story. It was reported that one engine caught fire and take off was aborted. PIA should stop flying ATRs. Too risky.

Recommend 0

pakistani

Dec 12, 2016 02:30am

People people people stop using PIA for your own life sake and your loved ones. Please travel on buses bit avoid PIA.

Recommend 0

Waqas

Dec 12, 2016 02:40am

Pakistanis deserve this state of affairs. Keep electing corrupt people you and your kids won't be safe anywhere.

Recommend 0

Changez khan

Dec 12, 2016 02:58am

Ground ALL local PIA flights immediately until they are all inspected and cleared to fly.

Recommend 0

T.M.Wazir

Dec 12, 2016 03:18am

All of ATR aircrafts must be grounded with immediate effect and passengers must not board the aircraft either.

Recommend 0

Shehz

Dec 12, 2016 04:14am

It's always the pilot's decission; what info did the ATC had that wasn't provided earlier to the pilots?

Recommend 0

Junaid

Dec 12, 2016 06:10am

PIA should have grounded all ATRs until the cause of the accident has been determined!

Recommend 0

Mohajir

Dec 12, 2016 07:19am

PIA is a flying coffin

Recommend 0

Philosopher (from Japan)

Dec 12, 2016 07:41am

It seems they used to fly with faulty planes before the incident of Pk661. Isn't?

Recommend 0

Imtiaz

Dec 12, 2016 08:03am

Ground ATRs and have thorogh inspections before allowing them to be airborne.

Recommend 0

Mushahid

Dec 12, 2016 08:51am

@Junaid Right on the money but the political leadership cannot tolerate another scandal after the Panamagate! Hence play with the lives of the innocent!

Recommend 0

Shahid

Dec 12, 2016 08:56am

Is PIA the only airline flying these planes? Off course not. PIA just needs to maintain as per safety standards and do not over stress the crafts.

Recommend 0

Imran

Dec 12, 2016 09:32am

CAA being headed by retirees, a retired performance is what one should expect. This is about time to allow these critical organizations be lead by their own career officers or from some other commercial organization with same experience. Bringing in some body from forces with no commercial experience is never a good practice in developed world. To cure an ailing organization please set the things principally right and then expect the results.

Recommend 0

Shaheryar

Dec 12, 2016 09:55am

Criminal changes needs to be brought forth for PIA and the minister of Aviation!

Recommend 0

adeel

Dec 12, 2016 09:55am

To all the negativity: Does PIA operate with only ATRs? Then why when you say they should ground all ATRs, because they have issues with maintaining them, and not the other aircrafts in their fleet? Yes, there are issues (in fact big issues) in the way they maintain and inspect their planes, but at the same time we should understand that accidents do happen and its not necessary that there is a human error (be it pilot or the maintenance, or even design) in each accident. So, until the accident report/analysis is out for the crashed ATR, it is a good decision on part of airline to operate with extreme precaution. And at the same time, people should be patient and not comment on something about which they know nothing of, technically.

Recommend 0

SamI

Dec 12, 2016 09:59am

Very sad to see how our National flag air line has become one of the most unsafe airline on earth. In 80s PiA was one of the top airline Now even for detail planes inspection plane crash has to happen...

Recommend 0

KAmran k

Dec 12, 2016 03:51pm

I used to travel via pia on toronto flights however since last few years noticed a significant decline in plane conditions i.e faulty lights video screens etc. Staff acts like vips, infact they are vips because of there connections in govt. When there really is corruption then we should be prepared for the consequences. I would say we are facing economic terrorism because of corruption.

Recommend 0

KAmran k

Dec 12, 2016 04:07pm

@adeel it's not about negativity but to face a reality and pressurized the responsible to take positive actions so quality assurance can be improved to save lives of innocents.

Recommend 0

Desi

Dec 12, 2016 10:38pm

Safety comes first. PIA does not put emphasis on safety, so passengers should fly other airlines. International passengers should stop flying PIA right away because there is Emirates, Etihad or Qatar that can take you anywhere in the world and they are much safer.

Recommend 0