On August 11, 2025, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 was grounded at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris due to an engine fault that occurred immediately after landing, as confirmed by a PIA spokesperson.
The incident happened shortly after PIA resumed flights to Paris in January 2025, following a four-year ban imposed by the EU. As a result, the grounding caused significant disruptions to the airline’s international flight schedule.
The technical issue triggered a domino effect, delaying several flights:
- Flight PK749 (Islamabad to Paris): Delayed by 10 hours, now departing at 1:00 AM local time.
- Flight PK797 (Lahore to Toronto): Departed 12.5 hours late.
- Flight PA430 (Lahore to Abu Dhabi): Delayed by 12 hours.
- Flight PK894 (Islamabad to Kuala Lumpur): Faced a 7.5-hour delay.
These disruptions affected passengers across multiple routes, highlighting the operational challenges caused by the fault.
PIA’s return to Paris in January 2025 marked a milestone after the EU lifted its ban, imposed due to safety concerns. The grounding of the Boeing 777 underscores ongoing technical challenges for the airline, raising questions about maintenance and reliability as it seeks to rebuild its international reputation.
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The incident could impact passenger confidence and PIA’s recovery efforts post-ban. It coincides with other aviation updates, such as the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) debunking rumours of an eight-day Islamabad airport closure, clarifying brief suspensions for Independence Day rehearsals. PIA’s swift response to address the fault is critical to minimising further disruptions.
