PIA Promotes Engineer Flagged by CAA for Negligence

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has promoted a senior engineer who was earlier found guilty of negligence and irregularities by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The officer, responsible for base maintenance, was under scrutiny for serious carelessness in handling engineering matters. Despite this, PIA elevated him from acting to permanent status. The promotion has sparked criticism from aviation insiders and raised concerns about accountability in the national carrier. Critics argue the move undermines safety and regulatory oversight.

The CAA had formally warned PIA after inspecting the airline’s engineering department. The authority flagged poor oversight, irregular practices, and administrative lapses. In its official letter, CAA held the base maintenance engineer accountable for these issues. While the warning stopped short of demanding his removal, it emphasized the need for internal reforms. The aviation regulator urged PIA to improve departmental governance and ensure better compliance moving forward.

Despite the warning, PIA chose to move ahead with the promotion. The airline stated that the officer had served in the position for over a year in an acting role. According to PIA, the decision was based on “merit” and followed internal evaluation. A spokesperson defended the promotion, saying it did not violate any CAA directives. The spokesperson also claimed that no safety standards were compromised in the process.

PIA insisted that the CAA’s letter only highlighted administrative shortcomings, not personal incompetence. The airline emphasized that the authority did not explicitly request the officer’s removal. “Merit prevails in the organization,” the spokesperson stated. “There is no compromise on safety issues.” However, industry experts believe such decisions could weaken regulatory enforcement. They argue that promoting a flagged official sends the wrong message within the aviation sector.

The development has once again put PIA’s internal practices under the spotlight. With ongoing challenges in financial stability and service quality, critics say the airline must enforce stricter internal accountability. The CAA’s warning was seen as an opportunity to reform, but the recent promotion has raised doubts. As scrutiny grows, aviation authorities may need to reassess how compliance and merit are defined within national institutions.