An air hostess of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) managed to travel from Islamabad to Toronto without a passport, using only the airline’s General Declaration documents, as reported by ARY News, citing insider sources.
The incident occurred when the air hostess was scheduled for duty on flight PK-781 from Islamabad to Toronto. She bypassed the standard passport requirement, raising concerns about security and adherence to international travel protocols.
Following this breach, PIA faced a substantial penalty for allowing flight attendants to enter Canada without proper documentation. The national carrier confirmed the imposition of a $250 fine for the incident, highlighting the seriousness of the violation. However, PIA’s spokesperson denied claims that the air hostess intended to seek political asylum upon arrival in Canada.
This incident adds to a series of similar occurrences involving PIA air hostesses in Canada. Over the past two years, more than 10 PIA air hostesses have reportedly gone missing in Canada, prompting concerns about the welfare and safety of airline staff on international routes.
In a related incident earlier this month, a PIA cabin crew member named Jibran Baloch was reported missing in Canada. Baloch was expected to return for duty on PIA flight PK-782 but failed to show up for the return flight to Pakistan.
Another case involved a female air hostess named Maryam Raza, who disappeared from her hotel in Canada. Authorities found her uniform in her hotel room along with a note reading, “Thank you, PIA,” according to ARY News.
These incidents highlight the challenges faced by the aviation industry, with recent issues also affecting the industry’s operations in European Union countries due to pilot license issues. The Aircraft Owners and Operators Association (AOOA) released a white paper on March 14, addressing the industry’s setbacks and proposing measures to address them, emphasizing the need for professionalism and suitable personnel in key positions within the industry.
