Airline sacks SAEP chairman Abdullah Khan Jadun and general secretary Owais Khan following investigation
Pakistan International Airlines has sacked Society of Pakistan Aeronautical Engineers president Abdullah Khan Jadun and general secretary Owais Khan Jadun amid an ongoing dispute that has already disrupted flight operations across the country.
According to the official letters, the two officials were offered the opportunity to be heard personally on November 4 and 5 as part of an investigation starting in 2024. However, the airline said that neither of them appeared before the PIA director general for the hearing. The investigation ultimately recommended their dismissal under relevant PIA regulations.
Jadun said the decision would be challenged in court, insisting that the necessary documents were available to challenge the dismissal. The national airline linked the layoffs to what it described as technical defects in the planes and violations of operational procedures. The PIA claimed that the refusal to clear aircraft deemed technically unfit contributed to the dispute.
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For several days, SAEP members have been protesting against management, which has led to numerous disruptions in flight operations, including dozens of delays and cancellations. Engineers have demanded salary increases – which they say have been frozen for eight years – a timely supply of plane parts and what they describe as a stress-free work environment.
SAEP said it would not compromise on aircraft safety or operational standards. “We will not bow to management pressure and authorize aircraft unless they are fully airworthy,” the association said.
During the protest, PIA hired engineers from a private company to support routine operations, but they struggled to manage the workload, leading to further delays. The conflict between the airline and its engineering staff remains unresolved.
