Boarded for Karachi, landed in Saudi: Pakistan airline's alleged goof-up stuns passenger; crew shifts blame

In a major goof-up, a Pakistani airline flew a passenger to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia instead of Karachi, his actual destination.

Shahzain, the affected passenger, alleged that he was not informed that he had boarded the wrong flight despite showing his ticket to the air hostess, ARY News reported.


The passenger had to travel from Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, to Karachi, the largest.

According to Shahzain, two planes were parked at Lahore airport's domestic terminal gate, and he was not aware of the mistake until it was too late.

He has now sent a legal notice to the carrier, accusing it of causing him distress by its negligence.

He demanded that the airline cover the additional travel expenses he incurred. He also sought compensation for the inconvenience and trouble he faced.

Additionally, Shahzain confirmed he did not have a passport or visa for international travel.

"Two hours into the flight, I questioned why the plane had not yet reached Karachi. This caused panic among the crew, who then blamed me for the mistake," he said, adding that when he asked to be taken to Karachi, he was told it would take two to three days.

"I was told that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would conduct an inquiry to which I assured to cooperate," he further stated.

The Pakistan Airport Authority has already taken notice of the incident, with the Lahore Airport Management holding the airline responsible.

The manager said that the passenger's arrival in Jeddah instead of Karachi was a result of the carrier's 'negligence and carelessness'.

He noted that a request for action has been submitted to the authorities.