Umrah Passengers Stranded as Islamabad-Bound PIA Flight Delayed
Passengers travelling from Jeddah to Islamabad on PIA flight PK-742 reportedly faced a delay of around 14 hours, with social media footage showing travellers waiting with their luggage at the airport.
ISLAMABAD: Passengers travelling from Jeddah to Islamabad on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight reportedly faced a prolonged delay, leaving travellers waiting for hours at the airport.
Reported 14-Hour Delay
According to a social media post circulating late Thursday, PIA flight PK-742, operating from Jeddah to Islamabad, was allegedly delayed by around 14 hours. The post claimed that the flight was expected to land in Islamabad on Friday morning after the extended wait.
Footage accompanying the claim showed a number of passengers gathered inside an airport terminal with luggage and baggage trolleys, apparently waiting for their flight.
The exact reason for the reported delay was not immediately clear, and an official statement from PIA explaining the circumstances could not be independently located at the time of publication.
Official Confirmation Awaited
PK-742 is a PIA-designated service on the Jeddah-Islamabad route, according to previously published PIA operational documents.
Flight delays can create particular difficulties for passengers returning from Saudi Arabia, including Umrah travellers carrying substantial luggage and families travelling with children or elderly relatives.
Islamabad Tribune could not independently verify the social-media claim that the latest delay lasted exactly 14 hours. The duration and cause should therefore be treated as preliminary unless confirmed by PIA or airport authorities.
