Report: Malaysia seizes a Pakistan airline jet over unpaid dues, passengers stranded
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 — The Malaysian government had impounded a Pakistan airline’s jet over unpaid charges to the leasing company, which has left passengers stranded.
The Boeing Co 777 jet operated by the Pakistan International Airlines Corp (PIA) was seized on Monday, forcing the carrier to send a replacement flight to pick up the stranded passengers, The Economic Times reported.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said that a Malaysian court had ordered the plane to be seized following a request by the lessor.
However, Abdullah said that the state-owned airline will seek legal action to retrieve the plane.
He also said the disputed amount was already paid by PIA.
This is the second time in the past two years that a PIA plane has been seized in Southeast Asian nation.
A spokesperson for AerCap Holdings NV, which Abdullah identified as the lessor, didn’t respond to a request seeking comment.
The report also stated that PIA has been struggling to overcome its financial problems after the European Union banned its flight operations in 2020 over fake pilot licenses.
