An air hostess posted on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Lahore to Toronto was detained at the Toronto airport after the passports of persons allegedly unrelated to her were discovered.
Sources revealed that passports of allegedly unrelated persons were found with the detained flight attendant, identified as Hina Sani, posted on flight PK-789 to Toronto.
According to insiders, this is not the first case of concern about the flight attendant’s behavior. She had previously been warned for allegedly bringing contraband into Canada.
It was also disclosed that the detained flight attendant is a relative of the beloved Pakistani singer and a social media model herself. Her involvement in such an incident attracted considerable attention and raised questions about the circumstances of her detention.
It was further revealed that Hina Sani was accompanied on flight PK 789 by seven other flight attendants, all of whom were declared “non-flyable” by the airline for Toronto.
Sources also revealed that the crew received special permission from the Deputy Director General (DGM) of Air Services with his own ID, a departure from standard protocol. This raises further questions about the circumstances that led to the incident.
After the detention, authorities in Canada proceeded to question the other two flight attendants on the flight. They were subsequently allowed to go to their hotel after questioning.
Carrying passports other than your own when traveling is an international crime.
Commenting on the matter, Abdullah Khan, spokesperson for PIA, confirmed that they were aware of the incident and were in touch with Canadian authorities for cooperation. “Canadian authorities will be fully co-operated and any proposed legal action will be taken,” the spokesman added.
This is not the first incident where a PIA employee has come under the radar of Canadian authorities, as late last month a flight attendant of the national flag carrier reportedly went missing while on duty in Canada.
The incident came to light when Maryam Raza, assigned to flight PK-782 from Pakistan to Toronto, failed to report for duty on the return flight PK-784 from Toronto to Karachi. Sources privy to the matter said that after investigation, a note expressing gratitude to PIA was discovered next to her uniform hanging in her room, which read, “Thank you PIA”.
Earlier in January, PIA’s first crew member of 2024 was found missing in Canada after flight attendant Faiza Mukhtar, posted on flight PK-781 from Islamabad to Toronto, allegedly slipped. She was supposed to be on duty on Flight 784 from Toronto to Karachi.
PIA said they came to know about the incident when 40-year-old Faiza Mukhtar allegedly failed to report with the crew for the return flight. Sources say she leaves behind a four-year-old son.
A PIA spokesperson said that departmental disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Mukhtar as affidavits of flight attendants with the national carrier are available, through which the FIA will also be contacted for negotiations.
