Home Latest News Drunk PIA Pilot Arrested in U.K.

Drunk PIA Pilot Arrested in U.K.

by AFP
Farooq Naeem—AFP

Farooq Naeem—AFP

Inebriated pilot was due to fly to Islamabad from Leeds Bradford International Airport.

A pilot for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been arrested at a British airport on suspicion of being drunk, police said on Thursday.

The airline said the man, Irfan Faiz, had been immediately grounded and said that if he were convicted of any offence in Britain, he would be sacked.

Faiz was preparing to fly a delayed flight to Islamabad when he was asked to take a breath test. “At about 10 p.m. last night police were called to Leeds Bradford International Airport where they arrested an airline pilot on suspicion of carrying out an activity ancillary to an aviation function while impaired by drink,” police said. “The 54-year-old man, from Pakistan, is currently in custody.”

The airport refused to comment beyond saying it was aware of the incident and it was being dealt with by police.

But a spokesman for PIA, Pakistan’s national carrier, said: “We grounded the pilot, Irfan Faiz, immediately after receiving information about his arrest from Britain. The pilot will face legal proceedings in the U.K. and he will be sacked if convicted there. The PIA will not provide any legal assistance to Faiz and he will himself arrange such an assistance there.”

Faiz, who has worked for PIA for at least two decades, is due to appear at Leeds Magistrate Court on Friday.

Related Articles

Leave a Comment