PIA Islamabad to Toronto Boeing 777 Flight PK781 Returning to Pakistan

[Abbas Ali]

May 17, PIA Islamabad to Toronto flight PK781 performed by airline's Boeing 777-200LR aircraft registration AP-BGZ is apparently returning to Pakistan probably to PIA Engineering base Karachi for some reason.

The aircraft departed from Islamabad at 3:21 PM and when it was in Russian airspace initiated U-turn around 7:21 PM (Pakistan Standard Time) i.e. about 4 hours after takeoff. Maximum altitude attained by the aircraft 34,000 feet.


Source: flightradar24.com

Abbas

[TomcatTask]

Is this a normal route to take when returning? It seems to be deviating to the west a lot perhaps heading to Karachi. But then why not just stop and offload passengers before going there?

[Abbas Ali]

Probably taking flight path to land in Karachi without using Afghanistan airspace.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

The Boeing 777 is diverting to Karachi to get hydraulics problem rectified by PIA Engineering at Karachi Airport. Longer flight path taken to avoid Afghanistan airspace.


Source: flightradar24.com

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to PIA spokesperson:

Due to a minor technical problem, PIA Boeing 777 Islamabad to Toronto flight PK781 is diverting to Karachi.

Karachi has been selected for flight diversion due to spare parts required by the aircraft available at PIA Engineering base at Karachi Airport.

Passengers will be accommodated in hotel(s) in Karachi.

PK781 expected to leave Karachi at 1:00 PM on May 18 to resume flight to Toronto.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

On May 18, PIA Boeing 777-200LR aircraft registration AP-BGZ Islamabad to Toronto flight PK781 after experiencing technical problem landed safely on Runway 25L of Karachi Airport at 1:19 AM.

The aircraft had departed from Islamabad Airport at 3:21 PM on May 17 and remained airborne for about 9 hours & 58 minutes.

Flight was diverted to Karachi due to availability of spare parts and PIA Engineering personnel to perform aircraft checks/repairs work at Karachi Airport.

Passengers to be given hotel accommodation by PIA in Karachi.

Aircraft expected to leave Karachi around 1:00 PM on May 18 to resume flight PK781 to Toronto.


Source: flightradar24.com

Upon landing, the aircraft was able to vacate runway & taxi to passenger terminal building parking bay with jet bridge facility. The aircraft did not seek tug assistance for towing.


Source: flightradar24.com

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to latest reports:

Technical problem in PIA Boeing 777-200LR aircraft registration AP-BGZ has been removed by PIA Engineering team at Karachi Airport.

The aircraft is undergoing re-checks.

After refueling, the aircraft will leave Karachi around 3:30 PM (Pakistan time) to resume flight PK781 to Toronto.

Abbas

[arshad.altaf]

Uff! Zulum!

Technical problems can arise even after all pre-flight checks. Still, this is a tremendous torture for the passengers who chose PIA for numerous reasons.

[Karachi Aviator]

According to latest reports:

Technical problem in PIA Boeing 777-200LR aircraft registration AP-BGZ has been removed by PIA Engineering team at Karachi Airport.

The aircraft is undergoing re-checks.

After refueling, the aircraft will leave Karachi around 3:30 PM (Pakistan time) to resume flight PK781 to Toronto.

Abbas

This messes up the whole Toronto schedule for PIA, AP-BGZ is the only aircraft doing these flights to Toronto right now. AP-BGY is grounded again. Now, does PIA send in a 200ER or a 300ER to Toronto for the flights scheduled from Lahore or Karachi?

On a separate note, PIA should sign an agreement with Turkish engineering so that in such cases, they temporarily divert to Istanbul to get the aircraft back in the air rather than flying the aircraft all the way back to Karachi. With EU and UK resuming in a couple of weeks, PIA should look into this.

[Abbas Ali]

On May 18, PIA Boeing 777-200LR aircraft registration AP-BGZ left Karachi at 3:43 PM to resume flight PK781 to Toronto.


Source: flightradar24.com

Abbas

[MadViking]

According to latest reports:

Technical problem in PIA Boeing 777-200LR aircraft registration AP-BGZ has been removed by PIA Engineering team at Karachi Airport.

The aircraft is undergoing re-checks.

After refueling, the aircraft will leave Karachi around 3:30 PM (Pakistan time) to resume flight PK781 to Toronto.

Abbas

This messes up the whole Toronto schedule for PIA, AP-BGZ is the only aircraft doing these flights to Toronto right now. AP-BGY is grounded again. Now, does PIA send in a 200ER or a 300ER to Toronto for the flights scheduled from Lahore or Karachi?

On a separate note, PIA should sign an agreement with Turkish engineering so that in such cases, they temporarily divert to Istanbul to get the aircraft back in the air rather than flying the aircraft all the way back to Karachi. With EU and UK resuming in a couple of weeks, PIA should look into this.

Why is BGY grounded? BGZ was out of service for an extended period earlier this year so I assumed she was going through heavy maintenance. Now Z is back and Y has not been seen at Toronto for a while so I assumed the same. We haven't seen a PK 200ER or 300ER for a long time at YYZ. PK has a lot of complications with the crews since the only two aircraft in the fleet with crew bunks are the LRs.