8 PIA flights took off to recover the Boeing 777 aircraft which made an emergency landing in Muscat during the Madina-Islamabad flight, while the aircraft was operational after 13 days after engine replacement.
The Boeing 777 aircraft suffered a technical failure at an altitude of 35,000 feet on March 6 while going to Madinah-Islamabad and due to the serious failure, the aircraft made an emergency landing at Muscat Airport.
For the maintenance of the aircraft, PIA’s engineering team reached Muscat as a special flight in an ATR aircraft, which stayed in Muscat for one and a half weeks.
Out of the 392 passengers stranded in Muscat, 322 were taken to their destination in another Boeing aircraft, more than 40 passengers were brought to Karachi in a special flight of ATR aircraft from where they were taken to their destination in the second flight, while the rest of the passengers took the evening flight. from Lahore and alternative arrangements were made to bring them to their destination from Lahore.
To restore the Boeing 777 aircraft suffering from technical problems, a replacement engine was sent to Muscat by a special flight of C130 aircraft. This special aircraft came to Karachi with the damaged engine.
Finally, as the ninth flight PK 9226, this Boeing arrived in Karachi on Monday evening. PIA has incurred millions of dollars in maintenance of this aircraft, alternative flights and engine maintenance to get the passengers to the destination. Renovations such as replacements are being termed as a major ‘boost’ to the battered national airline.