Another Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight attendant has ‘gone missing’ after landing in Toronto, raising the total number of crew members who have disappeared in the Canadian city this year to seven.
The latest incident involves Noor Sher, an experienced flight attendant who has been with PIA since 2003. Sher was part of the crew on flight PK-781, which departed from Islamabad on Monday, the first day of Eid-ul-Azha. His absence was noted when he failed to report for duty on the return flight.
A PIA spokesperson confirmed Sher’s disappearance and stated that departmental action has been initiated against him. This marks the latest case in a troubling trend of PIA crew members going missing in Canada. Since January 2023, at least 14 crew members have failed to return after landing in Toronto.
Officials attribute this phenomenon to Canada’s flexible immigration laws, which provide pathways for asylum seekers once they enter the country. These laws have seemingly incentivised flight attendants to disappear upon arrival in Canada.
The repeated incidents have raised concerns within PIA and among Pakistani authorities, prompting calls for stricter measures to prevent such occurrences. The airline is reportedly reviewing its protocols and considering additional safeguards to ensure that crew members adhere to their duties and return as scheduled.
This series of disappearances poses a significant challenge for PIA, complicating operations and raising questions about the broader implications for international flight crew management. The airline is expected to collaborate with Canadian authorities to address the issue and find a sustainable solution.