A senior flight attendant for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has reportedly gone missing in Canada after operating a flight from Lahore, marking the latest in a series of such disappearances amid uncertainty over the national carrier’s impending privatization.
Asif Najam, a senior flight purser, arrived in Toronto from Lahore on November 16. He was scheduled to report for the return flight, PK-798, from Toronto to Lahore on November 19, but failed to show up for duty.
According to the airline’s management, Najam was not present at his designated hotel accommodation when he was due to report back. When initially contacted by the airline, a spokesman stated that Najam had offered an excuse of “ill health” for his absence.
The incident continues a disturbing trend of PIA crew members allegedly “slipping away” during layovers in Canada.
Reports suggest that the rising number of such incidents is being fueled by growing anxiety and job insecurity among employees ahead of the government’s push to privatize the national airline.
A PIA spokesperson confirmed that a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the flight attendant. The airline stated that strict departmental action will be taken against Najam if his disappearance is confirmed to be an illegal abandonment of his duties.
The airline is reportedly taking measures to address the repeated issue of crew members abandoning their posts abroad.
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