Pakistan Flight Makes Emergency Landing Due to Cracked Windshield

KARACHI, Pakistan — A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Lahore to Jeddah made a precautionary landing at Karachi‘s Jinnah International Airport early Thursday morning. The pilot detected cracks in the aircraft’s windshield while flying at approximately 34,000 feet.

The airline’s spokesperson reported that the issue was likely caused by wind shear. He emphasized that the landing was executed safely and professionally, assuring that all passengers and crew members were unharmed.

PIA officials initially attributed the cracked windshield to a bird strike. However, this claim was later contradicted by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), which confirmed that no bird strike had occurred during the flight.

The Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SEAP) has pointed to potential negligence regarding the timely replacement of aircraft components as a contributing factor. Reports indicate that passengers experienced panic during the incident as the pilot contacted air traffic control for permission to land in Karachi.

After the safe landing, PIA announced that arrangements would be made for passengers to continue their journey to Jeddah once the aircraft had undergone a thorough technical inspection. The airline stated that the damaged windshield would be replaced, and passengers would be transported on either the same aircraft or an alternative.

According to sources, a total of 344 passengers were on board the flight. They have all been transferred to a hotel while repairs to the aircraft are anticipated to take around 12 hours.