The Pakistan International Airlines cancelled five flights after its engineers’ union disrupted operations, the national flag carrier said in a statement on Friday. The airline claimed that the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan, a derecognised body, tried to halt PIA operations during the late hours on Thursday "with a nefarious design to sabotage the privatisation process".

“The management, in cooperation with the key post holders in the Engineering Department, promptly responded. By using alternative means and working tirelessly day and night, they restored operations, thus mitigating the impact of already delayed flights,” the statement said.

PIA confirmed that five flights were cancelled after load readjustments, and alternate arrangements were offered to affected passengers.

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