A Pakistan International Airlines has clarified that the flight stopped in Canada has been allowed to depart after the airline paid its dues for fuel and handling.

Reports had emerged earlier in the day that flight PK-790 was that was set to travel from Toronto to Canada was stopped for four hours after a ground handling and fuel company demanded payment of dues amounting to $200,000.

The reports had claimed that the delay also caused the boarding process to be delayed for passengers.

A statement from the PIA said that the airline had difficulty making the payment as the issue arose during nighttime in Pakistan. However, the payment was eventually cleared allowing the flight to depart.

A statement from Swissport, the company that handles Toronto airport, had said that PIA owed the company over $280,000 and had repeatedly asked the airline to pay them.

It had added that the company would place PIA on prepayment and stop services from October 3.