Flight operations at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport were thrown into disarray on Tuesday as torrential rain and thunderstorms battered the city, severely impacting visibility and passenger movement.
Airport officials confirmed that at least eight flights were cancelled and 20 others delayed due to the adverse weather conditions. Several passengers were also unable to reach the airport because of flooded roads.
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A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight, PK-456, arriving from Skardu, was diverted to Sukkur, while FZ-335, a Dubai service, was redirected to Multan. Arrivals from Jeddah, Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Colombo also faced significant delays.
Domestic operations were hit particularly hard. PIA cancelled its Karachi-Quetta (PK-310/311) and Karachi-Islamabad (PK-308/309) flights, while Sukkur-bound services (PK-536/537) were also called off. Two private airline flights scheduled between Karachi and Dubai were cancelled as well.
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In one incident, a Serene Air flight, ER-501, attempted to land twice amid strong winds and heavy downpours before being forced to return to Islamabad.
A PIA spokesperson urged passengers to check the latest flight schedules by contacting the PIA call centre at 786-786-111 before heading to the airport. “PIA regrets the disruptions caused by severe weather and is making every effort to resume normal operations at the earliest,” the spokesperson said.
