Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Pakistan’s national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), is grappling with a severe maintenance crisis after a Boeing 777 aircraft suffered its second windshield cracking incident in a single week. The repeated failure has forced the aircraft to be grounded at Jeddah International Airport, raising critical concerns about PIA’s operational safety standards and fleet maintenance protocols.
Sources indicate that the windshield of this same Boeing 777 first cracked on Thursday while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 34,000 feet. Alarmingly, the temporary or replacement windshield installed on the jet failed again on the third day of operation. Authorities confirmed that both the inner and outer layers of the windshield are affected.
Temporary Fixes and Delays: During the initial repair, the damaged windshield of the Lahore-Jeddah flight was reportedly replaced using a used windshield salvaged from another grounded aircraft, along with the application of high-speed tape—an interim measure rather than a standard, brand-new replacement. The practice of using parts from grounded planes instead of new components fuels further speculation about maintenance compromise.
Sources revealed that the grounded aircraft was scheduled to operate flight PK 860 back to Lahore. Due to the grounding, the Jeddah-to-Lahore flight is now expected to face many hours of delay, causing significant distress and inconvenience for the affected passengers. These recurring technical malfunctions not only potentially endanger thousands of travelers but also severely tarnish the national carrier’s international reputation.
