Pakistan's PIA flight makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after mid-air technical alert

Dozens of Umrah pilgrims aboard PIA flight after emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Jeddah to Lahore made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, reports The Express Tribune.

The incident occurred after a technical alert was received mid-air, causing oxygen masks to deploy and panic among passengers, including Umrah pilgrims.

Flight diverted to Dammam

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson, quoted by The Express Tribune, said: ‘Flight PK-860 was scheduled to land at Lahore airport at 8 pm; however, it was diverted to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam due to a technical issue.’ Officials added that the plane was carrying 381 passengers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PIA Boeing 777 (AP-BMS) Jeddah-Lahore flight PK860 for technical reason landed in Dammam.<br><br>Later, the aircraft was ferried from Dammam to Karachi at low altitude not more than 9,000 feet.<br><br>PIA Boeing 777 (AP-BHX) as substitute aircraft transported passengers from Dammam to Lahore <a href="https://t.co/kuDmPv8W8P">pic.twitter.com/kuDmPv8W8P</a></p>&mdash; Pakistan Aviation News 🇵🇰 (@avpak3) <a href="https://twitter.com/avpak3/status/2002313731083284645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Safe landing and disembarkation

The report stated that the pilot successfully carried out the emergency landing and activated emergency protocols, with all passengers safely disembarked shortly afterwards.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PIA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PIA</a> flight PK-860 from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jeddah?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jeddah</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lahore?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lahore</a>, carrying over 381 passengers, made an emergency landing at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dammam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dammam</a> Airport due to a technical fault during flight.<br>Oxygen masks were deployed and emergency protocols were activated at Dammam. <br>Replacement aircraft sent <a href="https://t.co/TTy0o2OOty">pic.twitter.com/TTy0o2OOty</a></p>&mdash; Free thinker (@RameezKhan_Kz) <a href="https://twitter.com/RameezKhan_Kz/status/2002304334344654948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alternative arrangements for passengers

PIA arranged an alternate aircraft from Pakistan to transport the stranded passengers to Lahore, ensuring they reached their destination as soon as possible.