KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — Malaysian authorities impounds PIA Boeing 777 for second time over unpaid lease dues.
A Boeing 777 aircraft, operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), was impounded by Malaysian authorities at Kuala Lumpur Airport due to unresolved payment obligations, according to multiple sources. This news came to light through Pakistani media reports, which stated that the action was directed by a Malaysian court due to outstanding lease payments amounting to roughly $4 million.
Significantly, this is not the first instance of such a situation, as the same aircraft, leased from Malaysia, experienced a similar seizure in 2021 due to identical reasons. However, the aircraft was promptly released at that time, following the intervention of Pakistani diplomatic officials.
PIA, the national flag carrier of Pakistan, has been navigating substantial financial difficulties over the past several years. This incident coincides with a time when Pakistan's economy is wrestling with the double-edged sword of mounting debt and escalating inflation. As a nation in financial distress, Pakistan is vigorously seeking a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avert bankruptcy.
