LAHORE: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday successfully brought home 121 more Pakistani nationals who had been stranded in Iran due to the closure of Iranian airspace.
According to the airline’s spokesperson, the special flight PK-7160 landed in Lahore from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, at 3:40pm. Passengers had travelled overland from Iran to Azerbaijan to board the rescue flight, as direct air access remained suspended, he added.
On Wednesday, PIA had safely brought 150 Pakistani pilgrims stranded in Iran due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict to Islamabad through the first special flight via Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat.
The flight PK-9552 had landed late at night in Islamabad, carrying both pilgrims and family members of Pakistan’s diplomatic staff in Iran.
The special operation was initiated on the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With Iranian airspace closed amid regional tensions, the pilgrims were transported by road from Iran to Ashgabat, where a PIA Airbus – dispatched urgently from Peshawar – was already stationed.
With the second special flight safely landed in Lahore, the total number of stranded Pakistanis PIA evacuated from Iran has reached to 271.
The PIA spokesperson said that Pakistani embassies in Iran and Azerbaijan played a crucial role in facilitating the transit and coordination of the evacuation.
Passengers thanked the Pakistani embassy in Tehran and PIA for facilitating their safe return during the crisis.
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He added that the second phase of the evacuation operation was carried out under special instructions from the Government of Pakistan, with PIA stepping in to serve the national interest during a time of regional tension.
“The national carrier once again upheld its tradition of service in times of crisis, ensuring the safe return of citizens facing uncertainty abroad.”