“The disruption resulted in an approximately 21-hour delay and caused considerable inconvenience for those on board,” said a spokesperson for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) regarding flight PK-242.

The flight, which was scheduled to arrive in Karachi from Dammam at 11:40 PM on Saturday night, landed nearly a full day late due to a combination of bad weather and crew duty time limitations. The situation escalated when the flight was diverted to Al Qassim Airport for about four hours before ultimately returning to Karachi.

Around 170 passengers were affected by the delay, many of whom were stranded at Dammam Airport for hours without adequate information. “Passengers who had already cleared immigration remained stuck in airport lounges,” one affected traveler noted.

As the hours passed, many passengers spent the night in uncomfortable conditions, sitting on chairs or lying on the floor. Families struggled to care for young children and elderly relatives amidst the chaos.

After the diversion, the flight eventually departed Dammam around 7 PM and reached Karachi at 8:45 PM. However, the crew could not depart immediately after that because duty time limitations required mandatory rest following extended working hours.

Airline staff were reportedly unable to provide adequate facilities in accordance with aviation regulations, further compounding the frustration of those affected. Passengers cleared immigration but were left confined to airport lounges, with limited communication from the airline about the situation.

The delay has drawn attention to the operational challenges faced by airlines, particularly during adverse weather conditions. The incident highlights the need for better contingency planning to minimize passenger inconvenience during such disruptions.

As of now, PIA has not released a formal statement regarding compensation or follow-up measures for the affected passengers. Details remain unconfirmed.