Islamabad –The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday dismissed media reports claiming that a major accident was narrowly avoided at Islamabad International Airport when a foreign airline allegedly attempted to land on a closed runway. The authority clarified that the event was a “standard and internationally practiced safety measure”.
On Tuesday, several media outlets reported that flight SV278, a Saudia Airlines flight from Jeddah to Islamabad, narrowly escaped disaster after an air traffic controller alerted the pilot in time. According to flight tracker Flightradar24, the plane, originally scheduled to land at 4:05 pm, touched down more than an hour later at 5:13 pm.
In its official statement, however, the PAA said the go-around involving Saudia flight SV728 was executed exactly as per global aviation protocols. A go-around is defined by the US Federal Aviation Administration as a safe maneuver in which a landing is discontinued so the aircraft can climb back to a safe altitude for another approach.
The authority emphasized that go-arounds are “common, non-emergency procedures” used routinely worldwide to ensure maximum flight safety.
The PAA urged media organizations to avoid sensationalizing such events, noting that exaggerated reporting can create “unnecessary concern among the travelling public” and cause misunderstandings about routine aviation practices.
Reiterating its stance on transparency, the PAA said it remains committed to upholding the highest standards of safety across Pakistan’s airports and encouraged media outlets to continue responsible reporting based on verified facts.