About 380 passengers, including Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, high government officials, and other passengers and crew members had a narrow escape as the London-bound Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight was about to take off here on Monday.
According to details, PK 785 flight aircraft left the tarmac for takeoff point at 11.15 am, but soon after the aircraft developed some faults in an engine. As such, the plane was immediately taken back.
The ground staff and engineers of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) failed to prepare the airliner for flight to London. CAA officials requested the minister to come out of the plane, which he refused and said that he would spend the time along with other passengers. He was served lunch in the plane along with other passengers.
The minister returned to VIP Lounge at 5 pm by which time engineers had failed to remove the fault. The plane was ready for flight after 8 hours and then it left for London. CAA officials refused to give any details of the incident.