Over a hundred passengers aboard a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight had a narrow escape after their plane landed at Lahore airport without one of its rear wheels. The shocking discovery was made only after the PK 306 flight from Karachi touched down safely at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on Thursday morning. Upon landing, ground staff noticed that one of the aircraft’s rear wheels was missing, leaving both passengers and crew horrified. While the airline authorities assured everyone that the passengers were unharmed, the incident has sparked widespread concern about the safety standards and maintenance practices of PIA.

Reports suggest that parts of the wheel were later found at the Karachi airport, indicating it may have fallen off mid-flight due to technical failure or even theft. This alarming incident has prompted an urgent high-level investigation by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority. Meanwhile, speculations around the possibility of theft have added fuel to the fire, as the national carrier struggles with severe financial difficulties. With mounting debts and inadequate funding for proper aircraft maintenance, PIA has been forced to suspend operations on many routes and delay employee salaries. Social media users have seized the opportunity to criticize the country’s deteriorating economic state, linking it to such incidents. The episode highlights the urgent need for reforms in Pakistan’s aviation sector to restore public confidence.