Pakistan International Airlines aircraft seized in Malaysia over unpaid dues

A Boeing 777 aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was seized by authorities in Malaysia reportedly over a lease dispute on Tuesday.

Pakistan-based news outlets reported that after a court order, the aircraft, which was acquired on lease from Malaysia, was seized at Kuala Lumpur International Airport over non-payment of dues worth $4 million.

However, the airline refuted the claims, stating that it owned the aircraft. It noted that the leasing company only owned one of the mounted engines.

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As reported by DAWN, PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said that the actual due amount is $1.8mn and it has been apparently paid to the company.

Notably, for the same issue, the same aircraft was seized by the airport authorities in 2021 as well. However, it was released later after an assurance from Pakistan.

AerCap Holdings NV, which is reportedly the lessor, didn't comment on the matter yet.

DAWN report mentioned that the passengers of the flight were accommodated on an alternative aircraft. The PIA spokesman concluded that the disputed aircraft will operate as a normal commercial flight from Kuala Lumpur.

The leasing business said the Pakistani flag carrier stopped making payments in July 2020, according to a report in Simple Flying.

It stated that it had launched a case against PIA in the London High Court in October for failure to pay a lease fee of around $14mn, which had been outstanding for six months.

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