US bans PIA over safety concerns, fake licences

ISLAMABAD: The United States has suspended Pakistan International Airline’s special permit to operate in the country over the flag carrier’s safety measures and dubious licenses scandal.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has also issued a declaration in this regard. The authority said, “The PIA will not be able to operate its flights to the United States.”

The statement further said, “The US has suspended the flight operations of PIA to and from its airports immediately,” adding, “A ban has been placed on all types of flights operated by PIA.”

The national carrier’s spokesperson has also confirmed the development and informed that an email had been received in this regard.

It is worth mentioning here that the US transport department had earlier allowed PIA to operation 12 flights in the country. However, today (Thursday) the special permission has also been cancelled.

The development follows the grounding of 262 pilots whose licences were termed ‘dubious’ by the Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

Earlier on June 30, the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) suspended air operations of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) in Europe for six months.

UK barred PIA flights from three of its airports and Vietnam had grounded all Pakistani pilots working in the country. On the other hand, Malaysia announced the temporary suspension of pilots who hold Pakistani licences, and UAE had also sought verification of CAA licences granted to Pakistani staff.