For some time now, the airline Pakistan International Airlines has been suffering from an unusual phenomenon: flying staff who “say goodbye” during night stops abroad and never report back. This has been particularly common in Canada since 2019.

So far, it has mainly been flight attendants who have used this special form of “immigration” in Canada and other countries. Pilots only seem to “take the fly” very rarely. Just a few days ago there was another incident in Canada in which a PIA flight attendant did not show up for duty the following day after a night stop. Like her colleagues who entered Canada illegally in the same way, there is no trace of her either.

In many countries, crews of aircraft and ships enjoy the privilege of being able to “enter” with ease despite any visa requirements. This is usually linked to conditions that can be loose or restrictive depending on the state. The legislators assume that the crews will return to their place of work, i.e. plane or ship, after their overnight stay or shore leave and then leave the state again anyway. In 99,99 percent of cases this works exactly as intended.

Problem is expanding

Since 2019, Pakistan International Airlines has had a problem that they clearly cannot get under control. It happens again and again that crew members use their night stops abroad to escape. They simply don't return to the plane the following day and go into hiding in the state they are currently in. Local police authorities often have considerable difficulty finding the carrier's renegade personnel. This can also be operationally complicated for Pakistan International, as it can happen that passengers cannot be transported because there are too few flight attendants. In at least one case, a pilot crashed, which was even more problematic from an operational perspective.

Pakistan International Airlines says it has already raised the minimum age that flight attendants must be to work on Canada flights. Furthermore, they want to “examine them more closely” in order, if possible, to no longer use “people who want to flee” on flights to this country. Furthermore, there is a threat of disciplinary action if one were to storm anyway, although the latter is unlikely to be a deterrent if the person concerned no longer intends to return to Pakistan.

Flight attendant came from Islamabad and did not show up for the return flight to Karachi

Canadian media report that a flight attendant escaped again on January 19, 2024. The affected flight was PK781, which was traveling from Islamabad to Toronto. The Boeing 777-200LR with the registration AP-BGY was in use. The following day, the aircraft and crew were scheduled to fly to Karachi under flight number PK784. However: A flight attendant used the overnight stay to pile up. She did not return to the plane and has been missing ever since.

Both Canadian police and Pakistan International Airlines said they were searching for the flight attendant. So far the investigation has not been successful because the woman has not yet been found. Not all of her colleagues who have fled in the last few months have been found yet. In most cases, an asylum application is made when they are found, so that repatriation to Pakistan is not immediately possible.

So far, the incidents have not had any significant diplomatic impact. The provincial government has expressed its anger, but no measures have yet been imposed or requested from the central government. Purely theoretically, a ban on Pakistan International Airlines would be within legal limits. However, it is to be expected that Canada will bring the refugee problem to the diplomatic stage sooner or later.