Days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for an inquiry into a controversial post by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the carrier issued an apology on Friday. The post, celebrating the resumption of flights to Europe after a four-year break, featured an image of a plane headed towards a French landmark with the caption, “Paris, we’re coming today.”
Read: PM Orders Probe into Controversial PIA Paris Ad
The post, which appeared on PIA’s official X handle, drew widespread criticism online. Many users likened the imagery to the tragic 2001 attacks on New York’s Twin Towers.
“Unfortunately, the post was misconstrued, leading to unintended connotations and perceptions,” said PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan to AFP. “We sincerely apologize for any negative feelings it may have caused.”
Khan noted that the negative reactions online numbered between 60,000 and 70,000, constituting less than 10% of total engagement. Some comments questioned the appropriateness of the advertisement, suggesting a reevaluation of the marketing strategy.
Read: PIA’s Paris Flight Promo Stirs Controversy Over Sensitive Imagery
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar disclosed that the Prime Minister had mandated an investigation into the advertisement, criticizing it as foolish. Despite the controversy, Abdullah highlighted the overwhelming positive response to PIA’s return to Europe, with flights operating at over 95% capacity.
Previously, in June 2020, PIA faced a ban from flying to the European Union, United Kingdom, and the United States following a crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people, largely due to pilot and air traffic control errors. This incident brought to light serious concerns about pilot licensing within PIA.
PIA continues to operate flights throughout Pakistan, including to mountainous northern areas, and extends its routes to the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
