PIA Malaysian authorities seize PIA Boeing 777 aircraft
Islamabad: Malaysian authorities have seized a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing-777 aircraft at Kuala Lumpur airport over outstanding lease dues.
The PIA plane was seized on the orders of a local Malaysian court over the non-payment of aircraft lease dues, sources disclosed to Geo News.
PIA had leased two planes, including the Boeing-777, from a Vietnamese company in 2015, the Pakistani news channel reported.
The plane was reportedly seized when passengers were onboard.
The aircraft's 18-member staff also became stranded in Kuala Lumpur due to the seizure, and will now quarantine for 14 days as per protocols, sources told Geo News.
According to PIA sources, Flight 895 took off from Karachi and reached Kuala Lumpur and was supposed to fly back to Islamabad immediately because of which it had more crew members on board, reports Geo News.
A PIA aircraft has been held back by a local court in Malaysia taking one sided decision pertaining to a legal dispute between PIA and another party pending in a UK court.
— PIA (@Official_PIA) January 15, 2021
The passengers are being looked after and alternate arrangements for their travel have been finalized.
"Passengers were already on board and the pilot was about to take off but Malaysian civil aviation authorities directed the pilot to stop the plane and get off it along with all the passengers," PIA officials said as reported by Geo News.
All the passengers and crew members were reportedly sent to a hotel to stay there.
The PIA also tweeted on the issue and said: "A PIA aircraft has been held back by a local court in Malaysia taking one sided decision pertaining to a legal dispute between PIA and another party pending in a UK court. The passengers are being looked after and alternate arrangements for their travel have been finalized."
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