A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight operating from Karachi to Lahore has triggered a safety probe after an unexpected discovery upon landing. The aircraft, an Airbus A320-200, arrived at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on March 12 without one of its rear tyres, raising fresh concerns about aviation safety and maintenance procedures.
Flight PK306 departed from Jinnah International Airport in Karachi at 7:59 PM local time, departing slightly ahead of schedule. The flight was routine, and pilots encountered no issues throughout the journey. The aircraft touched down in Lahore at 9:15 PM—half an hour early—with no reported irregularities during landing or taxiing. However, a post-flight inspection revealed that one of the aircraft’s rear tyres was missing.
Despite extensive searches at both departure and arrival airports, authorities have yet to locate the missing component. Investigators are now working to determine whether the tyre detached mid-flight or if it was lost during takeoff. The pilots and crew were unaware of the issue at the time of landing, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the incident.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched an immediate investigation to uncover the cause of the missing tyre. Preliminary assessments suggest that the aircraft may have come into contact with an external object during its takeoff roll, potentially leading to tyre separation. However, no physical evidence has been found to support this theory.
Following the discovery, the aircraft has been grounded indefinitely. PIA has also canceled its scheduled March 13 flight to Muscat, which was to be operated by the same Airbus A320. Technical teams are now conducting a thorough inspection to determine any additional safety risks before clearing the aircraft for future flights.
The incident has reignited concerns over aviation safety, particularly regarding aircraft maintenance and operational oversight. This marks the second major inquiry into PIA’s operations in 2025, following a previous case in January where a flight mistakenly landed on the wrong runway in Multan.
As authorities continue their investigation, aviation experts stress the importance of stringent safety checks to prevent similar incidents. The missing tyre remains unaccounted for, leaving unanswered questions about how the aircraft completed its journey without any apparent signs of distress. Further updates are expected as investigators analyze flight data and conduct technical examinations.
