Karachi-bound Pak man ends up in Saudi Arabia after flight goof-up, had no passport

A Pakistani man scheduled to fly from Lahore to Karachi ended up in Saudi Arabia after mistakenly boarding a flight to Jeddah, raising serious concerns over airline procedures and airport security protocols, Gulf News reported.

The passenger, identified as Malik Shahzain Ahmed, was travelling via private carrier Air Sial on July 8. According to media reports, Ahmed boarded the wrong aircraft at Lahore Airport and only realised the mistake two hours into the flight when it became evident the plane was bound for an international destination.

“I asked myself, ‘This plane doesn’t seem to be landing soon.’ That’s when I realised I had boarded the wrong plane,” Ahmed said in a video statement released following the incident.

Upon arrival in Jeddah, Saudi immigration authorities detained Ahmed after discovering he lacked a passport — a basic requirement for international travel. He was later deported back to Lahore after the misunderstanding was resolved.

Compounding the issue, Ahmed alleged that Air Sial refused to arrange his onward travel to Karachi, instead asking him to purchase a new ticket despite the airline’s role in the error.

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has confirmed the incident and formally held the airline accountable. According to Gulf News, PAA spokesperson Saifullah stated that a report had been submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), urging them to impose a “heavy fine” on Air Sial for the serious lapse.

Authorities have yet to explain how Ahmed was able to clear immigration at Lahore Airport without possessing a passport. The incident has prompted intense scrutiny of existing airport protocols and immigration checks, with critics calling the oversight a “systemic failure.”

The PAA has pledged to review and reinforce security and verification measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The case is now being cited as a stark example of procedural negligence that could have led to more severe diplomatic or legal consequences had the situation not been calmly managed by Saudi officials.

- Ends