PIA aircraft PK-784 back to Toronto grounded due to fire alarm warning

The pilot called the air traffic control tower after getting a fire alarm alert in the cargo section, a PIA official said.

The fire alarm signal had gone off and the captain asked permission to make an emergency landing. After getting authorisation the jet turned around and landed at Toronto airport

The aircraft is being checked by the PIA engineering team, while fire department officials are also assessing the plane’s cargo compartment, added the spokeswoman.

All 130 passengers were transferred from the plane to the lounge under standard operating procedures (SOPs), PIA said.

Another incident took place on 19 August when a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Islamabad to Medina was diverted to the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi after a technical failure.

The mechanical problem was identified as the aeroplane was flying from Islamabad to Medina on flight PK-713 in the airspace of UAE. A PIA spokesperson said the captain chose to reroute the flight back to Karachi as a precaution.

The Boeing 777 carried more than 300 passengers, not counting staff members.

The mechanical malfunction occurred more than three hours after the aircraft had taken off. Then the skipper turned around and returned to Karachi.

“The aircraft landed safely at Jinnah International Airport and the passengers were shifted to the transit lounge.