A growing mystery is unfolding in Toronto, as another Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) crew member has vanished after arriving at Pearson International Airport. This marks the third such disappearance this year, raising serious questions about a troubling pattern.
Asif Najam, a seasoned flight attendant based in Karachi, landed in Toronto last Sunday aboard flight PK798 from Lahore. He was expected to return to Pakistan just three days later, but never reported for duty. Repeated attempts by the airline to reach him went unanswered.
Initially, Najam claimed illness as the reason for his absence. However, this explanation has done little to quell concerns, especially given the recent history of similar incidents. The airline has now launched a formal inquiry into his disappearance.
This isn’t an isolated event. Over the past two years, eight PIA crew members have failed to appear for their return flights from Canada. The airline has struggled to contain the issue, even resorting to requiring staff traveling to Toronto to surrender their passports upon arrival.
The prevailing theory centers on Canada’s immigration policies. Many believe the country’s relatively accessible asylum system is a powerful draw, tempting crew members to seek permanent residency by circumventing standard immigration procedures.
The disappearances have taken on a poignant quality. In October, Mohsin Raza simply didn’t board his flight back to Islamabad. Earlier in the year, in February, Maryam Raza left behind a handwritten note alongside her uniform, a simple “Shukria PIA” – thank you, PIA – hinting at a deliberate farewell.
Just a month later, Jibran Baloch vanished from his hotel, also missing his scheduled return flight. These cases paint a picture of individuals making a calculated decision, leaving behind their careers and lives for a chance at a new future in Canada.
The airline’s efforts to address the problem appear to have been ineffective, leaving them grappling with a persistent and unsettling loss of personnel. The investigation into Najam’s disappearance is ongoing, but the underlying issue remains: a perceived opportunity for a new life is proving too tempting for some to resist.
