More than 25 non-operational planes belonging to various airlines remain parked at the Jinnah International Airport junkyard, raising concerns over the safety, security and operations of the airport, officials said.
Airport sources said several of the grounded planes had been idle for years, with reports of birds nesting inside the planes and rats and other animals in the area. Officials warned that the situation posed risks to both security and the operational environment at the airport.
According to sources, around 20 grounded planes belong to Shaheen Air and remained at the airport due to unresolved legal issues, preventing their evacuation.
Besides, seven non-operational planes of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are also parked at the scrapyard, with authorities considering options for their disposal.
Read: Karachi airport’s ‘airplane graveyard’ attracts birds
Sources added that planes belonging to Air Indus, along with other foreign cargo and passenger planes, were also parked at the airport for several years.
Officials say the presence of old and grounded planes contributes to environmental concerns, creating potential risks for airport operations. The airport authority has started examining possible measures to remove the grounded plane and clean up the scrapyard to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the airport premises.
Plans are being developed to completely clean up the scrapyard in the next phase by removing all non-operational aircraft, according to airport sources.
This was also reported last year, in August 2024.
According to sources, the runway and tarmac of Karachi airport have become a dumping ground for more than 30 defunct planes of various airlines over the years.
The situation began to raise concerns as more and more birds took up residence in these abandoned planes, creating a risk of dangerous incidents. Despite years of neglect, no decision has been made to remove these planes from sensitive areas.
