PIA’s plane seized in Malaysia due to failure to pay lease dues

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing-777 has been detained by Malaysian authorities at Kuala Lumpur airport after a court order where PIA allegedly failed to pay the lease amount to the Vietnamese company, in time, PIA spokesperson confirmed on Friday, adding that matter is being worked out through diplomatic channels.

Passengers were already on board, along with an 18-member crew, when the airplane was seized.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the airline said: “A PIA aircraft has been held back by a local court in Malaysia taking a one-sided decision pertaining to a legal dispute between PIA and another party pending in a UK court.”

“The passengers are being looked after and alternate arrangements for their travel have been finalised,” the statement said.

“It is an unacceptable situation and PIA has engaged support from the government of Pakistan to take up this matter using diplomatic channels.”

(This is a developing story)