A Pakistani man who intended to travel from Lahore to Karachi ended up in Saudi Arabia after mistakenly boarding a flight to Jeddah without carrying a passport, raising serious questions over airline procedures and airport security checks.
The passenger, identified as Malik Shahzain Ahmed, was meant to fly with the private carrier Air Sial on July 8 but boarded the wrong aircraft at Lahore Airport. He only realised the error nearly two hours into the flight when it became clear that the plane was bound for an international destination.
“I asked myself, ‘This plane doesn’t seem to be landing soon.’ That’s when I realised I had boarded the wrong plane,” Ahmed said in a video statement issued after the incident.
Upon arrival at Jeddah Airport, Saudi immigration officials detained Ahmed when it emerged he did not have a passport — a basic requirement for international travel. Following an investigation, he was deported back to Lahore once the misunderstanding was clarified.
Ahmed later alleged that Air Sial refused to arrange his onward travel to Karachi, instead instructing him to purchase a new ticket despite the airline’s role in the mix-up.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has confirmed the incident and formally held Air Sial responsible for the serious lapse.
PAA spokesperson Saifullah told Gulf News that a detailed report had been submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), urging it to impose a heavy fine on the airline for its failure to adhere to proper checks.
Authorities have yet to explain how Ahmed was able to clear immigration at Lahore Airport without a valid passport.
The situation has prompted intense criticism of the airport’s security and verification processes, with many calling it a “systemic failure” that could have resulted in more severe consequences had Saudi officials not calmly resolved the matter.
Follow us
