Pak plane stopped from entering Indian airspace for changing flight plan

Lahore/New Delhi: A Kuala Lumpur bound flight from Pakistan with 250 passengers onboard was not allowed to enter the Indian airspace for a change in flight plan, which was not intimated to the Indian authorities in time.

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft from Peshawar had to be re-routed to Lahore over "take-off weight issues" requiring the airline to submit the changed flight plan to the Indian authorities which it did not, government sources said.

When flight PK 894 was about to enter the Indian airspace, the commander was informed that the air traffic authorities in New Delhi had not received the revised schedule. The flight was later allowed to overfly the Indian airspace after the Indian authorities received the revised plan.

A PIA spokesperson said, "Due restrictions of take-off weight from Peshawar, PK 894 this evening was re-routed to operate via Lahore for Kuala Lumpur."

He insisted that "such re-routings are an accepted feature in commercial aviation."

"The re-routing was done well in advance and all concerned had been duly informed. There was no resistance from any quarter, whether local or international for landing at Lahore," the statement said.

There were reports in the Pakistani media that the aircraft was not allowed to enter the Indian airspace without assigning any reason.