An Airbus A320 operated by Pakistani airline Fly Jinnah experienced a pressurization issue during a flight from Lahore to Karachi on May 24th, 2024, leaving the pilots and cabin crew needing supplementary oxygen, international media has reported now.
According to French investigation agency BEA, which cited information from Pakistani authorities, the aircraft had initially stopped climbing at 8,000 feet due to a “pressurization indication.”
The crew then requested to continue the climb, reporting that the problem had been resolved, and the plane reached 36,000 feet.
However, as the A320 passed 23,000 feet, both the captain and first officer began feeling “dizzy and drowsy” with a sense of lethargy. They immediately donned oxygen masks.
Additionally, one of the cabin crew members “passed out” before regaining consciousness after being given supplementary oxygen, while the other cabin crew also felt unwell, Flight Global reported.
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The aircraft climbed to 27,000 feet before the crew, approximately 100 nautical miles out of Lahore, reported another pressurization problem and requested to descend and return to Lahore. The plane landed safely with no injuries to the occupants.
The aircraft involved was identified as AP-BOV, a CFM International CFM56-powered Airbus A320 that was originally delivered to Air Arabia in 2011.
Fly Jinnah is a joint venture between Air Arabia and the Pakistani conglomerate Lakson Group that commenced operations in 2022.
The incident is under investigation by Pakistani authorities to determine the cause of the pressurization issues experienced during the flight.
