Two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight attendants have been suspended following a public altercation at the Jeddah International departure lounge. 

The incident occurred as the flight was preparing to depart for Multan and was captured on video, which quickly circulated on social media and drew widespread attention.

 

 

According to the airline, the scuffle took place on December 23, while an immediate intervention by airport personnel prevented the situation from escalating further. 

A PIA spokesperson confirmed that both crew members involved have been suspended pending a thorough internal investigation, with disciplinary action to follow once all facts are verified.

This is not the first time PIA cabin crew have faced disciplinary scrutiny. In a separate incident last year, two male air hosts, Khalid Afridi and Fida Hussain, reportedly failed to report for duty on a flight from Islamabad to Toronto, forcing the airline to operate without them. 

PIA contacted Canadian authorities at the time, and strict action was promised once the investigation concluded.

The incident comes at a time of major transition for PIA, which has recently been privatised. Arif Habib Consortium acquired the national carrier after submitting the highest bid of Rs135 billion, narrowly surpassing the Lucky Consortium, which had offered Rs134 billion.

Under the terms of the deal, the government will receive Rs10.2 billion in cash, while the consortium has acquired a 75 percent majority stake in the airline. Officials note that this marks the first major privatisation in Pakistan in nearly two decades.