Air Hostess
KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) faced significant penalties after an air hostess reached Canada without a passport, reported on Sunday, citing insider sources.
The incident occurred when the air hostess was scheduled for duty on flight PK-781 from Islamabad to Toronto. Surprisingly, she traveled from Islamabad to Toronto solely relying on PIA General Declaration documents, bypassing the standard requirement of a passport.
Following this breach, the national carrier incurred a substantial fine for allowing flight attendants to enter Canada without proper documentation.
In response, a PIA spokesperson confirmed the imposition of a $250 fine on the airline for the serious violation. However, the spokesperson refuted claims suggesting that the air hostess intended to seek political asylum upon arrival in Canada.
It is noteworthy that over the past two years, more than 10 PIA air hostesses have gone missing in Canada, raising concerns about the welfare and safety of airline staff operating on international routes.
On March 1, another PIA cabin crew member went missing in Canada, as confirmed by the national airline spokesman.
Jibran Baloch, a flight steward, was expected to return to PIA flight PK-782 in Toronto on February 29. However, he failed to report for duty on the flight back to Pakistan.
Prior to this, a female air hostess named Maryam Raza also disappeared from her hotel. Upon searching her hotel room, authorities found her uniform along with a message that read “Thank you, PIA.”
These incidents underscore the pressing need for enhanced security measures and better oversight to ensure the safety and well-being of airline personnel, while also highlighting the challenges faced by PIA in managing its international operations.
