LONDON (May 16, 2017): London police released the 13 officials of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) after brief detention at the Heathrow Airport in the wee hours of Tuesday.
According to the details, the British authorities detained 13 crew members from PIA’s flight PK-758 coming from Islamabad to London over security threats. However, the crew was later released as nothing suspicious was found during the search of the crew and plane during an investigation at the Heathrow Airport.
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PIA flight PK-758 left for Lahore after the release crew members. London police interrogated the PIA officials and took fingerprints of them, said sources.
The crew members were kept in detention for five hours and, according to UK Border Agency (UKBA) sources, information had been received from Pakistan that there were narcotics on board the flight. According to the information, there was suspicion that the crew might be involved and the narcotics were hidden in different panels and areas of the plane.
However, the National Crime Agency and UKBA agents, after searching the plane for approximately four hours, did not find anything. The crew was released at 2 AM (GMT) after being questioned but their passports were withheld by the UKBA, which stated that further questioning might take place. According to UKBA officials, the inquiry is still ongoing and after they are satisfied the next steps will be announced regarding whether the passports would be released or charges filed.
In a statement, the Metropolitan police said action against PIA crew members was taken by the UKBA which is directly dealt by the Home Office.
Earlier in February, PK-757 flight of PIA that was bound for Heathrow Airport of London from Lahore made an emergency landing at Stansted Airport over bomb-threat.
