Imagine being stuck at the airport, your travel plans in chaos, all because of a heated standoff between airline engineers and management. This is the reality for countless Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) passengers right now. A dispute over aircraft safety and working conditions has escalated into a full-blown crisis, leaving flights grounded and travelers stranded. But here's where it gets controversial: while PIA engineers insist they're simply refusing to compromise passenger safety, the airline's management accuses them of sabotaging privatization efforts. Let's dive into the details.
For the second consecutive day, PIA aircraft engineers continued their protest on Tuesday, causing widespread disruptions across major airports in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The core issue? Engineers are withholding safety clearances for aircraft they deem unfit to fly, citing concerns over maintenance and a severe shortage of spare parts. This has resulted in dozens of delayed or canceled flights, affecting both domestic and international routes. Among the hardest hit are Umrah pilgrims, whose travel plans have been thrown into disarray.
And this is the part most people miss: Engineers claim they’ve been silently protesting for over two months by wearing black armbands, yet management has reportedly ignored their grievances. According to the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP), engineers haven’t received a raise in eight years and are being pressured to approve flights that violate aviation safety rules. They argue that their stand is not a strike but a refusal to compromise passenger safety under duress.
PIA management, however, paints a different picture. They’ve begun disciplinary action against the engineers, transferring six from Peshawar to Karachi, and have labeled the protest an illegal act under the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952. A spokesperson even suggested that the engineers’ real motive is to derail the airline’s privatization process. As a temporary fix, PIA has enlisted engineers from a private company, but they’ve only managed to clear two flights so far.
The fallout has been severe. On Monday alone, at least 55 flights were affected, with five cancellations across key airports. International flights, including routes to Muscat, faced disruptions, while domestic services like Karachi-Skardu and Lahore-Karachi were also canceled. Delays stretched beyond 14 hours for some flights, leaving passengers frustrated and confused.
The SAEP remains firm, stating that engineers will not resume full operations until the airline’s CEO adopts a more cooperative stance. Meanwhile, the CEO has vowed strict action against any engineer deemed responsible for the chaos, warning of legal consequences for participants in the protest.
Here’s the burning question: Is this a legitimate fight for safety and fair treatment, or a strategic move to hinder privatization? The engineers’ refusal to clear aircraft they consider unsafe seems justified, but management’s accusations of sabotage cannot be ignored. What do you think? Are the engineers heroes standing up for safety, or are they overstepping their bounds? Let’s discuss in the comments!
