Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) came under heavy criticism on Sunday after the same Airbus A320 aircraft developed an identical technical fault for the second consecutive day, leaving passengers stranded and intensifying scrutiny over its maintenance practices, according to a news report.
The aircraft — registered as AP-BLS — was grounded again after its Flight Control Computer (FCC) malfunctioned before takeoff for flight PK-233 from Islamabad to Al Ain. The same issue had disrupted Saturday’s Islamabad–Dubai flight.
PIA confirmed that the aircraft had been cleared earlier under the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), declaring it airworthy, but the fault resurfaced during pre-flight checks. “The recurring fault forced the captain to abort departure, grounding the plane once again,” an official said.
Due to a shortage of spare parts, engineers found no replacement FCC available in Islamabad and had to cannibalise the component from another aircraft in Karachi. It was flown to Islamabad on PIA flight PK-300 for installation.
The twin disruptions stranded dozens of passengers for hours. “We were told everything was fixed yesterday, and now we’re stuck again,” said one passenger waiting at the lounge.
The incident coincided with a standoff between PIA management and engineers, now in its sixth day, resulting in the cancellation of nine flights and delays to 18 others due to “technical faults and non-availability of spare parts.”
According to engineering sources, domestic routes such as Islamabad–Skardu and Islamabad–Gilgit were also affected, alongside international connections from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Peshawar.
PIA management alleged that the engineers’ actions were aimed at sabotaging the airline’s privatisation process, while the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) rejected the claim.
In a statement, a PIA spokesperson also refuted allegations by the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) regarding aircraft safety, saying the national carrier adheres to international maintenance standards.
“The body responsible for air safety in Pakistan is the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), which regulates all airlines, including PIA, under the strictest international standards and procedures,” the spokesperson said.
He added that all matters relating to the use and replacement of parts, aircraft fitness, flight schedules, and operational changes “fall under the direct purview of the PCAA and are carried out only after securing its approval.”
