Incident Overview
• Date: January 17th, 2025
• Aircraft: Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200
• Registration: AP-BON
• Flight Number: PK-150
• Route: Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Multan (Pakistan) (Diverted to Lahore)
• Location: Lahore (Pakistan)
• Classification: Serious Incident
• Investigation Status: Open
Summary of Events
Flight PK-150 from Dammam to Multan was diverted to Lahore due to adverse weather conditions at Multan. Upon arrival, the aircraft was cleared to land on runway 36R at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. However, at 07:34L (02:34Z), the aircraft mistakenly landed on runway 36L, which had its lights turned off at the time. The aircraft landed safely and rolled out without further incident.
Sequence of Events
1. Weather Diversion:
• Adverse weather at Multan (visibility as low as 50m due to fog) prompted a diversion to Lahore.
2. Clearance for Landing:
• ATC cleared the aircraft for runway 36R, the operational runway at Lahore.
3. Landing on Wrong Runway:
• The aircraft touched down on runway 36L, which was not in use, and its lights were turned off.
4. Post-Landing Actions:
• The aircraft rolled out safely, and no damage or injuries were reported.
• The captain and first officer were grounded pending an investigation.
Initial Findings
1. Runway Confusion:
• The proximity of runways 36R and 36L, combined with reduced visibility at the time, may have contributed to the crew’s misidentification.
2. Runway Lighting:
• Runway 36L was not lit, which should have indicated it was not in use.
3. Pilot Error:
• The failure to correctly identify the assigned runway is being attributed to pilot error at this stage.
4. Weather Conditions:
• METARs from Lahore showed fog and reduced visibility, which likely added to the complexity of the approach.
Weather Data
Multan METARs (OPMT):
• Visibility: As low as 50 meters with dense fog and vertical visibility obscured.
Lahore METARs (OPLA):
• Visibility: Reduced to 500-600 meters, with fog and mist observed.
Safety Concerns
1. Runway Proximity:
• The close alignment of 36R and 36L poses a risk for misidentification, particularly in low-visibility conditions.
2. Runway Status Indication:
• The lack of clear indication that runway 36L was inactive might have contributed to the incident.
3. ATC Monitoring:
• Enhanced ATC oversight during critical phases of flight in challenging weather conditions is essential to prevent such occurrences.
Investigation and Recommendations
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has launched an investigation to determine the root causes of the incident. Preliminary recommendations include:
1. Enhanced Pilot Training:
• Emphasis on runway identification procedures during low-visibility approaches.
2. Runway Inactivation Protocols:
• Clear visual or electronic signals to indicate inactive runways, even in low-visibility conditions.
3. Improved ATC Oversight:
• ATC to monitor aircraft approaches more closely and provide real-time corrections if deviations occur.
4. Runway Designation Clarity:
• Consider renaming or clearly differentiating runways to reduce confusion.
Conclusion
This serious incident underscores the importance of strict adherence to runway assignments, especially in low-visibility conditions. The investigation will focus on procedural, environmental, and human factors to prevent recurrence.
Disclaimer
This report is based on publicly available information as of January 18th, 2025. For inquiries or copyright concerns, contact takedown@cockpitking.com.
