KARACHI: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi to Lahore landed with a missing wheel at its destination, authorities said on Friday, adding that an investigation into the matter was underway.
PIA has faced a history of challenges, particularly regarding the safety and reliability of its flights. In May 2020, one of its planes crashed into a residential area near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, killing 97 of the 99 people on board.
The crash led to deep scrutiny of PIA’s safety protocols, with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspending its authorization to operate in Europe, citing serious safety deficiencies. The ban severely impacted PIA’s international operations, tarnished the airline’s reputation and led to massive financial losses.
According to a PIA statement, PK-306 departed from Karachi to Lahore on Thursday and made a “smooth, uneventful” landing despite a wheel missing from the main landing gear.
“On the walk-around inspection by the captain, it was revealed that one out of the six-wheel assemblies on the main landing gear at the back side was missing,” the airline’s spokesperson, Abdullah Khan, said in the statement.
He added that PIA flight safety teams would submit a report in this regard once the investigation was complete.
“It is worth mentioning that the aircraft is designed to handle these contingencies and that at no point was there any risk posed to the equipment or to the passengers,” Khan said.
Later, the missing wheel of the plane was found near a remote parking bay at Karachi airport. The Pakistan Airports Authority confirmed that there was no evidence of casualties or property damage resulting from the wheel’s detachment.
The incident comes after EASA lifted the four-year ban on PIA on November 29, 2024, citing significant improvements in safety and regulatory compliance by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority.
PIA welcomed the decision and promptly scheduled flights to European destinations. The first direct flight from Islamabad to Paris took off on January 10, 2025, marking the official resumption of PIA’s European operations.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met with Pakistani footballer Muhammad Riaz and handed him Rs2.5 million ($8,916) cheque and promised a government job for him in a federal department of his choice, Sharif’s office said on Friday.
Riaz, who represented Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games, made headlines after a video of him selling jalebis, a popular street snack, went viral online, with netizens criticizing the government and sports bodies for ignoring the footballer.
Sports athletes in the subcontinent, including Pakistan, usually come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds before becoming household names overnight and attaining financial success.
In his meeting with the footballer, PM Sharif praised his courage and determination, and urged to continue playing football and an active role in promoting the game in the South Asian country.
“Pakistani youth are a valuable asset of the country,” Sharif’s office quoted him as saying. “Providing all kinds of facilities to Pakistani athletes and resources for them to compete at the international level is among the top priorities of the government.”
The prime minister instructed officials to provide Riaz with job in federal department of his choice.
“Steps should be taken to promote sports in the country,” he said. “A strategy should be formulated to provide sustainable employment opportunities to the athletes representing Pakistan at the international level and for their welfare.”
Riaz thanked the prime minister for the financial support and for taking steps for the welfare of players and the promotion of sports, according to Sharif’s office.
The plight of football in Pakistan is a tale of unfulfilled potential, administrative chaos and lack of investment. Despite a passionate fan base and a pool of talented players, the sport has suffered due to mismanagement by governing bodies, political interference and inadequate infrastructure.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has been marred by internal disputes and FIFA suspensions which have hindered the development of the game at all levels.
On Wednesday, the Pakistan Football League (PFL) also announced a cash prize of Rs1 million ($3,573) and a “prominent position” in the league for Riaz.
The PFL is a franchise league that says it is driven by a UK-based company with foreign investment solely committed to uplifting football from the grassroots to a professional level in Pakistan.