PIA Flight Operations Halt as Engineers’ Protest Escalates Over Management Dispute

Flight operations were halted due to the protest / Photo File (Reuters) 

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) faced a nationwide operational shutdown after a major dispute erupted between the airline’s management and its aircraft engineers, who refused to clear planes for flight. The protest, led by the Society of Aircraft Engineers, brought both domestic and international operations to a standstill.

According to airline sources, the standoff began on Monday night after 8 PM, when engineers halted flight clearance procedures, grounding at least 12 international flights. The suspension left hundreds of passengers, including a large number of Umrah pilgrims, stranded at airports across the country.

The protesting engineers claim they will not resume duties until PIA’s CEO changes his “hostile attitude” toward staff. In response, the CEO has ordered strict disciplinary action against those responsible for disrupting flight operations.

PIA’s spokesperson dismissed the engineers’ association, saying it “has no legal standing” and accused it of trying to sabotage the airline’s privatization efforts. The spokesperson added that invoking “safety concerns” as a reason for mass walkouts is a “deliberate conspiracy to create chaos and pressure management.”

He further clarified that the Essential Services Act remains in force at PIA, which legally prohibits strikes or walkouts. Legal proceedings will be initiated against all individuals or groups involved in the disruption.

To mitigate the crisis, PIA management has begun arranging alternative engineering support from other airlines and maintenance partners, assuring passengers that flight operations will resume soon.