Daijiworld Media Network – Lahore

Lahore, Jul 13: In a bizarre case of alleged airline negligence, a passenger travelling from Lahore to Karachi was mistakenly flown to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—despite not carrying a passport or visa. The incident has triggered a legal battle, with the passenger demanding compensation for the ordeal.

The traveller, identified as Shahzain, has issued a legal notice to the private airline, accusing it of gross negligence. As per reports by ARY News, Shahzain boarded the wrong aircraft from the domestic terminal after presenting his ticket to the crew. “Two planes were parked at the same gate. I had no idea I was boarding the wrong one,” he said.

He claimed that his boarding pass was checked, yet no airline staff flagged the error. It was only two hours into the flight that Shahzain began to suspect something was wrong. “I asked why we hadn’t reached Karachi yet, and that’s when panic set in among the crew,” he said, adding that the blame was then shifted onto him.

The airline reportedly told Shahzain that it would take two to three days to arrange his return from Jeddah. He was also informed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would launch a probe, to which he expressed his full cooperation.

The legal notice seeks reimbursement of travel costs and compensation for the mental distress caused. Shahzain insists the airline is at fault for not verifying his documents and allowing him to board an international flight without valid travel papers.

The incident has caught the attention of Pakistan’s Airport Authority. Lahore Airport Management has reportedly held the airline responsible, and a senior official confirmed that the error occurred due to the carrier’s “negligence and carelessness.” A formal request for action has been submitted to the concerned authorities.