Instagram user Ali Khan shared his harrowing experience and the alarming conditions on what he described as “one of the most dangerous flights in the world.”
In 2020, the European Union banned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) due to concerns over Pakistan’s ability to meet international aviation standards. Recently, a Pakistani social media user and traveler, Ali Khan, shared a video on Instagram that highlighted the alarming conditions aboard a PIA flight. In the video, which Khan described as showcasing “one of the most dangerous flights in the world,” he asked his followers, “Would you fly on this route?”
The video begins with Khan boarding the flight, only to be immediately warned by the cabin crew that recording was not permitted. Undeterred, he continued to document his experience, revealing dusty seats, a broken seat handle, and an overhead bin held together with duct tape. Despite these conditions, Khan noted that the pilot was engaging, providing passengers with interesting facts and information about Skardu, the flight’s destination.
“Pakistan already has a troubled reputation globally, and it doesn’t help when the national carrier is banned from an entire continent,” Khan wrote in the post’s caption. “But I decided to fly with PIA for the first time in over a decade to visit the Northern Areas of Pakistan—an absolute bucket list location for me. I’m so excited to take y’all with me.”
Since its release earlier this month, the video has garnered over 761,000 views and more than 16,000 likes. Reactions in the comments ranged from admiration for Khan’s adventurous spirit to concern over the airline’s safety.
One viewer commented, “Watching this clip and hearing what you said about the airline gave me heart palpitations. But no doubt about the beauty you witnessed, and God bless you for the risk you took to see it.”
Another user remarked, “Pakistan Airlines? I would never even consider, let alone get anywhere near one of their planes.”
A third person shared their own experience: “I’ve flown to Gilgit with PIA, just a little further north. It’s one of the most beautiful flights in the world, but there have been so many plane crashes along that mountain corridor!”
In a lighter tone, a fourth user joked, “Duct tape? All airlines use it! Everyone should carry some with them while traveling.”
