Statement issued by the so-called “Engineering Society” contained misleading facts, spokesman says
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) strongly rejected the allegations of mismanagement made by the ‘so-called Engineering Society’, describing the statements as an attempt to undermine the national aviation sector for personal gain while reiterating its full compliance with international aviation standards.
In a detailed reply issued to recent media reports on its operations and aircraft maintenance, a PIA spokesperson said the airline’s management had exercised restraint over the past two days and avoided unnecessary statements.
However, a statement issued by the so-called “Engineering Society” contained inaccurate data and misleading facts, which received wide media attention and unwarranted international scrutiny. PIA described this as an attempt to undermine the national aviation sector for personal gain, adding that these elements are neither benevolent nor professional in their conduct.
Read: PIA engineers face action for refusing to compromise on safety
He emphasized that the responsibility for aviation safety in Pakistan rests with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates all airlines, including PIA, under the strictest international standards. “All aspects of aircraft operations – from parts use and replacement to airworthiness, routes and scheduling – are approved by the Civil Aviation Authority in accordance with international law,” he added.
The spokesman highlighted that Pakistan’s aviation sector has undergone several revisions, which enabled PIA to resume direct flights to Europe and the UK. The concerns raised by the community, PIA maintained, are unfounded and appear to be motivated by opposition to privatization and wage increases.
He also criticized the self-proclaimed president and general secretary of the society for lacking recognized qualifications from the Pakistan Engineering Council, saying they are not authorized to work on aircraft. The airline said its actions are politically and personally motivated, aimed at undermining PIA’s structure and hindering its profitability and network expansion.
Flight safety clarifications
Regarding reports of an aircraft windshield incident, the spokesman explained: “The windshield has three reinforced layers and only the inner layer was cracked, which does not pose any risk to aircraft safety.” He added that similar incidents occur internationally with airlines such as Singapore Airlines, American Airlines and Virgin, where compensation procedures are considered standard practice.
Images circulated showing windshield repairs being done with tape were also misleading, PIA said. Any tape or steel strips shown were temporary during the curing process and did not compromise safety.
Also read: PIA accuses the engineers’ body of derailing the privatization process
Contrary to claims of engineer strikes, PIA said no flights were canceled due to staff protests. Recent cancellations and delays were caused by technical problems and unavailability of spare parts. On Sunday, nine flights were canceled and 18 delayed across domestic and international routes, including Abu Dhabi-Peshawar, Dubai-Karachi and Islamabad-Skardu, with delays of between three and 10 hours.
The spokesman reiterated that management has not taken retaliatory action against engineers and continues to work with patience. But former leaders of the community, whose employment termination proceedings have been ongoing for four months, have used political influence to spread misleading narratives.
The Society of Aircraft Engineers responds
The Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SEAP) criticized PIA’s alleged crackdown on engineers, claiming that warning letters, warnings and forced transfers were used against personnel who complied with international maintenance standards. SEAP said these measures put flight safety and the airline’s reputation at risk.
The Society attributed flight disruptions primarily to administrative errors and lack of spare parts rather than engineering personnel. A grounded aircraft in Karachi, registered AP-BMY, remained out of service due to missing components, including a pressure reverser unit, resulting in the cancellation of flights such as PK-213, PK-214, PK-223 and PK-284.
“Maintenance cannot be compromised under any circumstances,” SEAP said, stressing that the current technical obstacles stem from administrative deficiencies, not technical failures.
PIA’s flight operations were suspended following a battle between the airline and its flight engineers, who stopped the issuance of airworthiness clearances in protest against the behavior of the airline’s managing director.
The disruption left 12 international flights grounded after 20, causing considerable inconvenience to passengers including Umrah pilgrims. The Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) had announced that its members would not resume work until the CEO changed his behavior.
