Stranded Pakistani passengers in Saudi Arabia endure growing despair after their airline’s sudden grounding, exposing regulatory lapses and Pakistan’s deepening aviation crisis.
News Desk
RIYADH: Dozens of Pakistani passengers have been stranded in Saudi Arabia for more than ten days following the abrupt suspension of their private airline’s operations, leaving them in a state of uncertainty and growing distress.
The ordeal began after Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued an order grounding the airline, stating that its Air Operator Certificate had been suspended because the company failed to maintain even a single airworthy aircraft. The suspension effectively halted all flights, including those scheduled to bring back passengers from Saudi Arabia.
In contrast, the airline’s management insisted that its aircraft — previously grounded due to a bird strike — had been fully repaired and declared flight-ready. The company said it had filed an appeal with the CAA, seeking the reinstatement of its operational license and special permission to operate a repatriation flight for the stranded passengers.
Meanwhile, passengers trapped abroad have been bearing the brunt of the bureaucratic deadlock. With limited financial resources, many said they had been living in overcrowded rooms and struggling to afford food or basic necessities. “We have been stuck in one room for ten days. Our money has run out, and we don’t know when we’ll get home,” said one exhausted traveler.
The crisis highlights the persistent challenges facing Pakistan’s private aviation sector, where operational lapses and regulatory disputes frequently disrupt services. It also raises concerns over the absence of contingency measures to protect passengers caught in such situations. As the standoff between the airline and the CAA continues, dozens remain in limbo, waiting for a resolution that will finally bring them home.
