Pakistani plane turned away for want of proper flight plan

Lahore/New Delhi: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft was today turned away before it could enter the Indian airspace as the airline “did not inform” the aviation authorities about a change in its flight plan.

The Kuala Lumpur-bound PIA flight from Peshawar had to be re-routed to Lahore over “take-off weight issues” requiring the airline to submit the changed flight plan to the Indian authorities which it did not, government sources said.

When flight PK 894 was about to enter the Indian airspace, the commander was informed that the air traffic authorities here had not received the revised schedule. The flight was later allowed to overfly the Indian airspace after the Indian authorities received the revised plan. The flight later landed in Lahore with reportedly around 250 passengers.

A PIA spokesperson tweeted that “PK894 was re-routed due 2 weight restrictions at Peshawar airport. There was no resistance from any quarter”.

“Due restrictions of take-off weight from Peshawar, PK 894 this evening was re-routed to operate via Lahore for Kualalampur,” a statement posted on his Twitter handle said.

“The re-routing was done well in advance and all concerned had been duly informed. There was no resistance from any quarter, whether local or international for landing at Lahore.

“After refueling the flight has already departed for Kualalampur. Such re-routings are an accepted feature in commercial aviation,” the statement said.

There were reports in the Pakistani media that the aircraft was not allowed to enter the Indian airspace without assigning any reason.

Balloon with Pak flag found in village near Indo-Pak border

Pathankot: A balloon carrying a Pakistan flag was found in Fatehpur village near Indo-Pak border here, causing panic among the residents, a police official said today.

“One balloon with a flag of Pakistan landed in Fatehpur village here on August 14,” the official said.

The green coloured balloon had a picture of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and a message in Urdu, he said.

There is nothing to worry as the balloon must have flown into Indian territory as the neighbouring country had celebrated its Independence Day on August 14, police said. PTI