Pakistan's flag carrier banned from UK

PIA serves Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham and now faces a ban after the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) – which the UK remains a member of until the end of this year – suspended its authorisation for the remainder of 2020.

PIA confirmed: “Easa has temporarily suspended PIA’s authorisation to operate to the EU member states for a period of six months effective 1 July 2020 with the right to appeal against this decision.”

Investigations will centre on 141 pilots whose credentials are suspect. Enquiries follow an accident last month when a PIA aircraft crashed on approach to Karachi, killing 97 onboard and a child on the ground. The aircraft had made a second attempt to land, but investigators concluded the crew had omitted to lower the landing gear.

The carrier, which operates from the UK to Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, has until 3 July to perform repatriation flights from the UK and Europe.