Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) faced strong criticism after a post-Hajj flight carrying hundreds of pilgrims was delayed for many hours in Jeddah due to technical problems. The Boeing 777 operating flight PK-860 from Jeddah to Karachi reportedly had been under repair for about a month and was put into service without full testing.
On June 3-4, 2026, around 393 pilgrims boarded the aircraft. Soon after, the air conditioning system failed, leaving passengers in extreme heat and discomfort. Many protested as women and children felt faint due to a lack of oxygen and poor conditions inside the plane. The flight was delayed for nearly 15 to 17 hours before finally departing late at night and landing in Karachi early morning.
Passengers reported that engineers worked on the technical fault while they waited on board. PIA later apologised for the inconvenience and said the issue was resolved before departure clearance.
This incident has raised serious questions about PIA’s aircraft maintenance and fleet readiness during the busy post-Hajj operation. The national carrier is operating many flights to bring back over 53,000 pilgrims. Experts say such problems damage the airline’s reputation and affect pilgrims who deserve safe and comfortable travel after their religious journey.
PIA has promised to improve services. Passengers and aviation observers are calling for stricter checks on aircraft before Hajj and Umrah flights.
