US Bans Pakistan International Airlines over Fake Pilot Licence Scandal

In June, Pakistan International Airlines grounded about a third of its pilots over fake or dubious licences. AFP
In June, Pakistan International Airlines grounded about a third of its pilots over fake or dubious licences. AFP
TT
20

US Bans Pakistan International Airlines over Fake Pilot Licence Scandal

In June, Pakistan International Airlines grounded about a third of its pilots over fake or dubious licences. AFP
In June, Pakistan International Airlines grounded about a third of its pilots over fake or dubious licences. AFP

The United States has banned Pakistan International Airlines from operating chartered flights to the country, the airline said,.

The decision came after it announced that nearly 150 pilots would be grounded over fake or dubious licences.

This also comes after European Union aviation regulators decided to bar the state-run carrier for six months.

PIA said in a statement that the Federal Aviation Authority in the US had revoked approval for the airline due to "recent events identified by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority that are of serious concern to aviation safety," according to AFP.

In June, Pakistan's aviation minister said that a government review had found around 260 of the country's 860 active pilots hold fake licenses or cheated on exams.

PIA at the time said it would immediately ground about a third of its 434 pilots, just weeks after one of its planes crashed in Karachi killing 98 people -- an accident blamed on pilot error.

So far 17 pilots have been fired in the first phase of its investigation, a PIA spokesman told AFP.

The airline had suspended its commercial operations to the US in 2017 after booking financial losses on the route.



Iranian Minister Arrives in Russia with a Message from Khamenei

FILED - 04 October 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting in Beirut. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 04 October 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting in Beirut. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
TT
20

Iranian Minister Arrives in Russia with a Message from Khamenei

FILED - 04 October 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting in Beirut. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa
FILED - 04 October 2024, Lebanon, Beirut: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting in Beirut. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Moscow on Thursday to deliver a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian state media reported.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran does not come to an agreement with Washington over its disputed nuclear program, and the United States has moved additional warplanes into the region.

The US and Iran held talks in Oman last weekend that both sides described as positive and constructive. Ahead of a second round of talks set to take place in Rome this weekend, Araghchi said on Wednesday that Iran's right to enrich uranium is not negotiable, reported Reuters.

Araghchi’s Telegram account posted a video of him arriving in Moscow.

Western powers say Iran is refining uranium to a high degree of fissile purity beyond what is justifiable for a civilian energy program and close to the level suitable for an atomic bomb. Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons.

Russia has said that any military strike against Iran would be illegal and unacceptable. The Kremlin on Tuesday declined to comment when asked if Russia was ready to take control of Iran's stocks of enriched uranium as part of a possible future nuclear deal between Iran and the United States.