KARACHI: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight that was facingchallenges ahead of landing at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airportduring its flight from Islamabad has arrived “safely”, Geo News reported,citing sources.
According to sources, the pilot of the PIA’s flight PK-319 had informed thecontrol tower approximately one hour ahead of the scheduled arrival thatthere was an indication the aeroplane’s nose wheel was “not opening” — andwas probably stuck. This, in turn, prompted the state of emergency at theKarachi airport.
However, the hatch to the front wheel opened subsequently, allowing theaeroplane to “land safely” at the Jinnah International Airport. FlightPK-319 is an Airbus A320 plane, which was carrying 173 people, includingpassengers and crew.
On the other hand, the runway, which was temporarily closed off for otherflights, with flight PK-319 still there, was reopened 20 minutes later. Theaeroplane was moved to the parking lot, whereafter all of the passengersand the crew disembarked safely, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed.
The Airbus A320, which flies from Karachi to Islamabad and back, was movedto the parking area and grounded for a required check-up.
The problem in the nose-wheel latch occurred despite a routine check-up ofaeroplanes ahead of their flights, and Airbus A320 was given the greensignal to fly.
Earlier, a state of emergency had been declared at the Karachi airportahead of the scheduled arrival time of the PIA’s flight PK-319, airlinesources revealed.