Pilotcenter.net News has brought attention back to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) just days after the carrier resumed international flights to Europe. The airline is under investigation following an incident where one of its flights mistakenly landed on a closed runway in Lahore with its lights switched off. This serious safety breach has raised concerns about how such an oversight could occur within the company.

The incident involved PIA flight PK150, traveling from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to Multan Airport in Pakistan on January 17, 2025. The flight, which was forced to divert due to adverse weather conditions, landed on the wrong runway at Lahore Airport. Although the aircraft landed safely, the error was noticed by air traffic control, leading to an immediate safety report and further investigation into the incident. The captain and first officer have been grounded pending the outcome of the investigation.

This landing mishap comes at a critical time for PIA, which had been working to lift its ban from the European Union's airline blacklist over past safety violations. The airline had just resumed flights to European destinations amid much anticipation. With plans to expand operations to include flights to London-Heathrow, Manchester, and possibly Birmingham, all eyes are on PIA to see how it navigates this recent safety issue.

In the past, PIA has faced scrutiny for various safety breaches, including crews operating with fake licenses and questionable maintenance practices. The airline was banned by the European safety regulator in June 2020 after a fatal accident involving one of its flights resulted in numerous casualties. PIA's fleet currently consists of 32 aging aircraft, with plans to reintroduce more stored planes to meet operational needs in 2025.

Despite these challenges, PIA remains committed to enhancing its network and maintaining schedule reliability. A PIA spokesperson expressed confidence in the airline's on-time performance, emphasizing its commitment to meeting fleet requirements for its ambitious operating plan in 2025. Whether this recent safety incident will impact PIA's international operations remains to be seen.