DUBAI/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines’ flight PK‑212 from Dubai to Islamabad faced further disruption late Friday night after a commotion among passengers escalated into violence, prompting Dubai police to detain seven individuals.
According to media reports, the flight had already been delayed for more than three hours due to operational restrictions at Dubai International Airport, where authorities imposed a 10‑minute gap between departures amid heightened regional security concerns.
PK‑212, though ready for departure, remained grounded during this interval.
MM News has learnt that passengers were served food during the wait, but tensions flared when several individuals began misbehaving.
Witnesses said one passenger attempted to force entry into the cockpit, while another smashed a window of the aircraft. The crew quickly contained the situation and alerted Dubai security officials, who boarded the plane and arrested seven passengers involved in the disturbance.
Officials confirmed that the aircraft was subsequently grounded, with remaining passengers and crew shifted to a hotel as the crew’s duty hours had expired. Technical teams are now assessing the damage to the plane and conducting safety checks.
PIA sources indicated that the flight is expected to depart later today, either to Islamabad or Karachi, once repairs and clearances are completed.
