Latest news with #MalikShahzainAhmed
Arab News
18-07-2025
- Arab News
Pakistani man, deported after boarding wrong flight to Jeddah, accuses airline of ‘criminal negligence'
KARACHI: A Pakistani man, who was 'mistakenly' flown to Saudi Arabia last week, has moved a high court against the private airline, Air Sial, according to the court petition, which accuses the airline of demonstrating 'criminal negligence' in a matter of national security. Malik Shahzain Ahmed, a resident of Karachi, was scheduled to fly from Lahore to Karachi on July 8 on the private airline's flight PF-146. However, he boarded an international flight to Jeddah without any visa or passport and was subsequently detained and deported by Saudi immigration authorities. In a petition filed in the Sindh High Court on Friday, the passenger requested the court for an early hearing which the court accepted and fixed his plea for July 21. The complainant made the private airline and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) parties in his petition. 'This is a matter of national security. A JIT (joint investigation team) should be formed on this matter,' Ahmed said in his petition filed through his lawyer, Muhammad Nawaz Dahri. 'How did a person go abroad without a ticket, without a passport and other documents? This is criminal negligence of the private airline.' Ahmed also accused the airline management of harassing him. 'The license of the private airline should be suspended until the investigation is completed,' he requested. In a legal notice previously served to the airline, Ahmed said he was denied assistance by the airline and subjected to humiliation, distress. He said he faced 'severe mental trauma' and had to purchase another ticket to return to Karachi. The notice had accused the airline of violating the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014, citing 'defective' service, lack of identity verification and 'misleading representations regarding safety and professionalism.' It also alleged breaches of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Rules, 1994, the Pakistan Immigration Ordinance, 1979, and international air travel conventions, including the Montreal Convention of 1999. In a statement after the incident was first reported by news channels, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said it had taken notice of the lapse and written letters to the civil aviation regulator and the station manager. 'In the letter, the civil aviation regulator has been requested to impose a heavy fine on the airline that is guilty of negligence,' PAA spokesman Saifullah, who goes by a single name, told Arab News. Ahmed's legal notice demanded a written response within two days alongside compensatory damages. Air Sial has not publicly commented on the matter.
Khaleej Times
15-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
Pakistan airline accidentally flies out passenger to Saudi without passport
In an astonishing mishap, a man was flown to Jeddah instead of Karachi after boarding a flight from Lahore, as per local media outlets. The passenger, Malik Shahzain Ahmed, was travelling with private airline Air Sial on July 8, when the incident took place. According to him, he did not have a passport or visa for international travel, which caused further distress at the destination, where he was detained and deported. Shahzain claimed that despite showing his ticket to the air hostess, he was allowed to board the flight and not informed of the error. When he realised he was on the wrong plane, it was already too late. The passenger has now filed a complaint against the airline, which refused to cover expenses of the return flight to Lahore. He also claimed that the airline said it would take two to three days for them to bring him to Karachi when he questioned the crew mid-flight. According to him, the crew panicked when he questioned them and blamed him for the error. Shahzain, in his legal notice, has urged the airline to cover additional flight expenses and respond to the issue. The Pakistan Airport Authority is currently investigating the matter and the Lahore Airport Management said it is holding the airline responsible and that the incident took place due to the carrier's 'negligence and carelessness'. The organisation's manager said a request for action has been submitted against the airline.
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First Post
15-07-2025
- First Post
Pakistani books Lahore to Karachi ticket, reaches via deportation from Saudi
When the Pakistani man landed in Jeddah, Saudi immigration detained him due to the missing passport, but later deported him back to Lahore once the mix-up was sorted out. read more A Pakistani man, who was supposed to fly from Lahore to Karachi, ended up in Jeddah after mistakenly boarding the wrong plane, sparking major concerns about airline procedures and airport security, reported Gulf News. On July 8, Malik Shahzain Ahmed was travelling with Air Sial, a private carrier, when he boarded a flight at Lahore Airport. However, he didn't realise that the plane was headed to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Two hours into the flight, he noticed something was off when it became clear the plane was going international. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I asked myself, 'This plane doesn't seem to be landing soon.' That's when I realised I had boarded the wrong plane,' Ahmed said in a video statement released following the incident. Shockingly, he had boarded without a passport—a basic requirement for such travel. When he landed in Jeddah, Saudi immigration detained him due to the missing passport, but later deported him back to Lahore once the mix-up was sorted out. To make matters worse, Ahmed claimed Air Sial refused to cover his travel to Karachi, insisting he buy a new ticket despite their mistake. Pakistani authorities hold Air Sial accountable The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed the incident and held Air Sial responsible. PAA spokesperson Saifullah told Gulf News that a report was sent to the Civil Aviation Authority, pushing for a hefty fine on the airline for the blunder. How Ahmed slipped through immigration at Lahore without a passport remains unexplained, raising serious questions about security checks. Critics are calling it a 'systemic failure.' The PAA promised to tighten security and verification processes to avoid such incidents in the future. Many see this as a glaring example of negligence that could've led to bigger diplomatic or legal issues if Saudi authorities hadn't handled it smoothly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
India Today
15-07-2025
- India Today
Karachi-bound Pak man ends up in Saudi Arabia after flight goof-up, had no passport
A Pakistani man scheduled to fly from Lahore to Karachi ended up in Saudi Arabia after mistakenly boarding a flight to Jeddah, raising serious concerns over airline procedures and airport security protocols, Gulf News passenger, identified as Malik Shahzain Ahmed, was travelling via private carrier Air Sial on July 8. According to media reports, Ahmed boarded the wrong aircraft at Lahore Airport and only realised the mistake two hours into the flight when it became evident the plane was bound for an international asked myself, 'This plane doesn't seem to be landing soon.' That's when I realised I had boarded the wrong plane,' Ahmed said in a video statement released following the incident. Upon arrival in Jeddah, Saudi immigration authorities detained Ahmed after discovering he lacked a passport — a basic requirement for international travel. He was later deported back to Lahore after the misunderstanding was the issue, Ahmed alleged that Air Sial refused to arrange his onward travel to Karachi, instead asking him to purchase a new ticket despite the airline's role in the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has confirmed the incident and formally held the airline accountable. According to Gulf News, PAA spokesperson Saifullah stated that a report had been submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), urging them to impose a 'heavy fine' on Air Sial for the serious have yet to explain how Ahmed was able to clear immigration at Lahore Airport without possessing a passport. The incident has prompted intense scrutiny of existing airport protocols and immigration checks, with critics calling the oversight a 'systemic failure.'The PAA has pledged to review and reinforce security and verification measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The case is now being cited as a stark example of procedural negligence that could have led to more severe diplomatic or legal consequences had the situation not been calmly managed by Saudi officials.- Ends
Gulf Insider
13-07-2025
- Gulf Insider
No passport, Wrong Flight: Pakistani Passenger Mistakenly Flies To Saudi Arabia
In a shocking turn of events, a Pakistani man scheduled to fly from Lahore to Karachi ended up in Saudi Arabia after mistakenly boarding a flight to Jeddah, according to media reports. The incident has prompted serious concerns about airline procedures and airport immigration checks. The traveller, identified as Malik Shahzain Ahmed, was flying via the private airline Air Sial. He reportedly boarded the wrong aircraft on July 8 from Lahore airport. In a video statement, Ahmed said he only realised the mistake two hours into the journey when it became clear the flight was headed overseas. 'I asked myself, 'This plane doesn't seem to be landing soon.' That's when I realised I had boarded the wrong plane,' he said in the video. To make matters worse, Ahmed was not carrying a passport during the international flight. Upon landing at Jeddah Airport, Saudi immigration authorities briefly detained and questioned him before deporting him back to Lahore after the misunderstanding was clarified. Ahmed claimed that the airline had since refused to arrange onward travel to Karachi, allegedly asking him to purchase a new ticket despite the error. The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed the incident and has held the airline responsible for the security lapse. In a statement, PAA spokesperson Saifullah said that higher officials had taken notice and written to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), urging them to impose a 'heavy fine' on the airline for its negligence. Despite repeated questions, authorities have yet to explain how Ahmed managed to clear immigration and board an international flight without valid travel documents. The PAA has promised to review and strengthen its protocols to prevent such incidents in the future. The case has sparked widespread criticism of airport and airline procedures, particularly around passenger verification and immigration checks. Ahmed's case is now being cited as a serious example of systemic failure that could have had far graver consequences had Saudi authorities not handled the situation calmly.
