Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an investigation into the airline's controversial advertisement, linking it to the tragic events of 9/11, as public outrage grows.
Pakistan Airlines Under Fire After Controversial Ad Resembles 9/11 Imagery
Pakistan Airlines Under Fire After Controversial Ad Resembles 9/11 Imagery
Pakistan International Airlines faces backlash for an ad celebrating flights to Paris, which critics claim evokes memories of the September 11 tragedy.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif initiated an investigation on Tuesday into the controversial advertisement released by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which many viewers deemed disturbing for its resemblance to the September 11 attacks. The ad was intended to celebrate the airline's resumption of flights to Paris but faced immediate backlash after it featured an aircraft directed toward the Eiffel Tower, captioned “Paris, we’re coming today.”
Social media users reacted harshly, with one thread from political scientist Ian Bremmer suggesting that the airline should hire a new graphic designer. Columnist Omar R. Quraishi expressed disbelief, remarking on X, “Do they not know about the 9/11 tragedy — which used planes to attack buildings?”
The concern is heightened given Pakistan's ties to the events of September 11; Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, deemed the mastermind behind the attacks, was apprehended in Pakistan, and Osama bin Laden was found and killed within its borders in 2011. In response to the uproar, PIA's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, conveyed to Parliament that the prime minister has requested a thorough review of the internal approvals for the advertisement.
This incident adds to the ongoing challenges faced by PIA, which has struggled with significant financial losses and has been under pressure to privatize. A recent attempt to sell the airline fell short, with the only bidder offering less than 12 percent of the government’s minimum demand of $300 million.
Controversy isn’t new for PIA; in 2017, it made headlines when ground crew members performed a goat sacrifice on the tarmac for good luck. Furthermore, safety concerns have plagued the airline, leading to restrictions preventing its planes from flying to the United States and the United Kingdom. However, PIA recently resumed flights to Paris following the European Union’s aviation safety agency lifting a four-year ban on the airline.
