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Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended a flight attendant nabbed at Pearson International Airport for allegedly possessing illegal passports, The Toronto Sun has learned.
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The incident falls hot on the heels of a report suggesting that at least eight PIA crew members have vanished in Toronto looking for asylum.
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According to reports in the Pakistani media, flight attendant Hina Sani was detained by Canadian Border Services when she was allegedly found to be in possession of fake passports.
Last week, Sani was working Flight PK-789 from Lahore to Toronto. She was allegedly carrying passports belonging to people who had no relation to her.
Pakistani media reported the incident wasn’t the first with Sani. Previously, she had been nabbed for allegedly bringing contraband into Canada.
On her Facebook page, the social media high-flier made no mention of her troubles.
It was revealed that additional flight attendants accompanying Sani on the flight were declared “no-flyers” for Toronto by PIA. The Pakistan Observer reported that the crew received special permission from an airline executive using his identification.
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Two other flight attendants were questioned.
“Full cooperation will be given to the Canadian authorities, and any legal action suggested will be taken,” PIA spokesman Abdullah Khan said, confirming the incident.
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Last month, PIA flight attendant Maryam Raza failed to report for duty in Toronto for Flight PK-784 from Toronto to Karachi. Sources told local media that she left a note with her uniform in the room reading: “Thank you, PIA.”
In January, flight attendant Faiza Mukhtar, 40, also did a runner on a flight from Islamabad to Toronto. She did not show for a flight from Toronto to Karachi. She left behind a four-year-old son.
If she surfaces, she will be the subject of disciplinary action, the airline said.
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Meanwhile, PIA spokesman Khan told CTV News that at least eight flight attendants “have gone missing” in Toronto.
“Since probably October of 2022, the number of the people that have opted for asylum has increased tremendously,” Khan said.
“None of those crew members that disappeared in the last 1 1/2 years have come back. So they were granted asylum for one way or the other, and that probably has encouraged others to do so.”
Khan wasn’t sure why crew members were disappearing in Canada. One reason could be the unsettling climate in Pakistan, where the Canadian government cautions there is a “high threat of terrorism”.
Khan added: “So I naturally assumed that all of them have been given asylum because I don’t think they would be living there illegally.”
Canadian Border Services did not return messages left by the Sun.
bhunter@postmedia.com
@HunterTOSun
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