KARACHI: Pakistan’s national airline confirmed on Saturday that it is investigating the case of a flight attendant who did not board a return flight from Toronto this week, warning that action will be taken if the cabin crew member is found to have disappeared “illegally.”
Cabin crew member Asif Najam did not report for duty on the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight PK-798 from Toronto to Lahore, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan confirmed. Najam later told the airline he was unwell when contacted, Khan said.
“PIA flight attendant Asif Najam did not report for duty on flight PK-798 from Toronto to Lahore. When contacted, he cited ill health as the reason,” Khan told Arab News.
“The matter is under investigation. If he is found to have disappeared illegally, departmental action will be initiated against the flight attendant,” the PIA spokesperson said.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in Pakistani cabin crew members disappearing in developed countries, especially Canada, during layovers as they seek to escape challenging economic conditions at home.
