A fuel truck hit PIA Boeing 777 at Toronto’s Pearson that was operating flight PK 798 for the sector Toronto – Lahore on Saturday. As a result the flight is rescheduled and it is slotted to depart at 17.00 on 21st October 2017. Because of the damage to the plane the flight to Lahore is delayed for 16 hours delay.
PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said in a statement that “the aircraft Boeing 777 with registration AP-BHW while refuelling at Toronto airport was hit by a fuel supply vehicle causing damage to the engine cowling of parked aircraft. The passengers of the flight PK 798 were informed about the technical delay and provided hotel accommodation. The said aircraft was sent to the hanger for immediate repairs which was carried out by Air Canada.”The spokesperson further said that the “airline has taken up the matter with local ground handling agency accordingly”. on the other hand another PIA flight PK701 for the sector Islamabad – Manchester was also delayed due to consequential effects of the same Boeing 777 aircraft which resulted in some adjustments in schedule and alternative arrangements were made for the flight which departed after a delay of 4 and a half hours on Saturday evening at 7pm.
This is the second incident at Pearson airport involving PIA aircraft within this year as on 3 January 2017 a PIA plane collided with the wing of an Air France aircraft. The Air France plane was parked at a gate at Terminal 3 as the Pakistan International Airlines aircraft taxied towards a gate nearby. The tips of the airplanes’ wings touched resulting in minor damage and the return flight was delayed.