LAHORE: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight bound for Dubai was forced to return to Lahore shortly after takeoff due to a bird strike, sources confirmed on Tuesday.
PIA flight PK 203 departed from Allama Iqbal International Airport at 12:30 PM PKT and was scheduled to land in Dubai at 03:30 PM.
However, moments after takeoff, the aircraft was struck by a bird, prompting the pilot to alert the control tower and request an emergency landing.
The aircraft safely landed back in Lahore, where emergency protocols were briefly activated as a precautionary measure.
Passengers were left waiting in the airport lounge as airline officials assessed the situation. PIA has yet to provide details on the nature of the technical fault or when the flight will be rescheduled.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over bird strikes near major airports in Pakistan. Further updates are expected as PIA evaluates the aircraft’s condition and reschedules the flight.