On a routine flight from Lahore to Canada, Hina Sani, a member of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cabin crew, faced a predicament when Canadian customs officials detained her upon arrival in Toronto.
The reason behind the detention was her possession of a passport belonging to an unrelated individual. Accompanying Sani were two other crew members from the same flight, PK-789, who underwent a similar brief detainment before being released following comprehensive investigations.
However, the repercussions didn’t end there for Sani. The PIA management swiftly took action by suspending her from duty and announced intentions to pursue further disciplinary measures, in accordance with the outcomes of the Canadian customs inquiry.
The gravity of the situation was compounded by the fact that carrying another individual’s passport while traveling internationally is a clear violation of established laws. Abdullah Hafeez Khan, the PIA spokesperson, reiterated the airline’s commitment to cooperating fully with Canadian authorities throughout the investigation process.
Awaiting the completion of the Canadian inquiry, PIA management remains prepared to take necessary steps based on its findings. This includes both departmental actions against the suspended crew member and potential legal ramifications.
In a gesture of resolution, the PIA announced that the other two crew members, who were released after the investigation, would be returning to Pakistan imminently. Their swift return signals the airline’s desire to resolve the matter expediently and minimize any further disruptions to its operations.
This incident isn’t the first of its kind involving PIA crew members in Canada. Just last month, another crew member, Maryam Raza, vanished upon landing in Canada while on duty, raising questions about the airline’s procedures and oversight.
