PIA denies claims entire flight crew went missing in Toronto, calls it ‘fake news’

In another case in February 2024, a cabin crew member who arrived in Toronto on flight PK-782 from Islamabad failed to report for the return flight PK-784 to Karachi, Dawn reported.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday denied social media claims that the entire crew of one of its flights had gone missing in Toronto, Canada, calling the reports 'fake news' circulated by 'anti-Pakistan quarters,' according to Dawn.

“A tweet, circulated by certain anti-Pakistan quarters, claiming that [the] whole crew of a particular PIA flight is missing, is entirely baseless,” the national carrier said in a post on X, adding that the claim was aimed at maligning both PIA and Pakistan, Dawn reported.

In a separate statement, a PIA spokesperson also rejected the reports, saying the information originated from an “Afghan and anti-Pakistan account,” according to Dawn.

“The misleading tweet is part of a well-conceived plan based on hostility towards Pakistan and is aimed at damaging the reputation of the national airline and the country,” the spokesperson said, adding that the claim had no basis.

While PIA dismissed the latest claim, the airline has previously faced cases involving individual crew members going missing in Canada, a pattern that has fuelled speculation online.

On November 21, a PIA flight attendant reportedly failed to report for duty in Canada, prompting an internal inquiry, Dawn reported. PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said the attendant did not show up for flight PK-798 from Toronto to Lahore and cited ill health when contacted.

“In case of illegal disappearance, departmental action will be initiated against the flight attendant,” Khan said, according to Dawn.

Similar cases have been reported earlier. In October last year, a cabin crew member based in Islamabad reportedly went missing during a layover in Toronto. In March 2024, a 47-year-old PIA steward was also reported missing in Canada.

In another case in February 2024, a cabin crew member who arrived in Toronto on flight PK-782 from Islamabad failed to report for the return flight PK-784 to Karachi, Dawn reported.