PIA flight from Dammam reaches Karachi after nearly 21-hour delay

KARACHI: A Pakistan International Airlines flight from Dammam to Karachi arrived at Jinnah International Airport after a delay of nearly 21 hours, leaving passengers stranded for long periods at airports in Saudi Arabia.

PIA flight PK-242 had originally been scheduled to land in Karachi at 11:40pm on Saturday night. The flight was first diverted because of bad weather and later faced an extended delay linked to operational issues.

Passengers reportedly endured hours of waiting at Dammam Airport before being told at around 3am that the flight had been cancelled. Repeated delays and cancellations meant airline staff were unable to provide facilities in accordance with aviation regulations.

As a result, passengers who had already cleared immigration remained stuck in airport lounges. Many travellers, including children and elderly passengers, spent the night sitting on chairs or on the floor.

Airline explains cause of disruption

A spokesperson for Pakistan International Airlines said the aircraft had initially been diverted to Al Qassim Airport because of bad weather. According to the spokesperson, the plane remained there for about four hours before returning to Dammam.

The spokesperson said the crew could not depart immediately after that because duty time limitations required mandatory rest following extended working hours. The spokesperson added that the crew needed at least 12 hours of rest, which further prolonged the delay.

The flight later departed in the evening and reached Karachi at 8:45pm on Saturday, carrying around 170 passengers.

Overall, the disruption resulted in an approximately 21-hour delay and caused considerable inconvenience for those on board.