A Pakistani private airline has come under heavy criticism after a domestic passenger was mistakenly boarded on an international flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, without a passport or visa.
The incident occurred on July 7, 2025, at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, involving a passenger identified as Malik Shahzain, a Karachi resident who was scheduled to travel back home after spending a month in Lahore for business.
According to reports, Shahzain was issued a boarding pass for a domestic flight to Karachi and was transported to the aircraft via shuttle. However, due to ongoing maintenance at the airport and poor lighting conditions, two planes—one headed to Karachi and another bound for Jeddah—were parked near each other on the tarmac.
In the confusion, the passenger boarded the wrong aircraft. The error was only discovered upon arrival in Jeddah, where Saudi immigration authorities found that Shahzain had no travel documents.
He was detained briefly and questioned by Saudi officials before the mistake was confirmed to have originated in Pakistan. Arrangements were later made for his return.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have launched an investigation into the security lapse. Sources say several airport and airline staff have been suspended pending the outcome of the probe.
“This incident points to serious negligence and failure of standard boarding and security procedures,” a senior PCAA official said.
Aviation experts have expressed alarm over the breach, warning that such lapses could pose major security risks.
The airline involved has not released an official statement as of press time.
