Fact File: No evidence entire Pakistan airline crew disappeared in Toronto
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Article contentRumours the entire crew of a Pakistan International Airlines flight surrendered themselves to authorities after landing in Toronto spread on social media this week.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThe rumours claimed the crew members applied for asylum in Canada and the airline suspended direct flights between Canada and Pakistan as a result.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentThe Canada Border Services Agency said it was unable to confirm the claims, and flight tracking data shows flights between the two countries are operating as usual.Article contentArticle contentTHE CLAIMArticle contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentThis week, social media rumours claimed the crew of a Pakistan International Airlines flight disappeared during a stop at Toronto Pearson International Airport.Article content“The plane was scheduled to return to Islamabad after a two hour stopover. However, unfortunately, the entire crew of the aircraft, including the pilots, surrendered themselves to the authorities and applied for asylum,” claimed a user on the X platform, formerly Twitter, in a post with around 17,000 likes and 2.9 million views at the time of publication.Article content“As a result, new pilots were called in, and Pakistani planes will no longer operate direct flights to Canada,” the X post reads.Article contentOther social media users repeated the claim on X, Instagram and Facebook.Article contentTHE FACTSArticle contentThere is no evidence the airline crew left their plane to apply for asylum in Canada.Article content“The Canada Border Services Agency is unable to corroborate these claims,” an agency spokesperson said in an email.Article contentAccording to Toronto Pearson, Pakistan International Airlines operates one flight per week from Toronto to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.Article contentArticle contentThe airport’s website shows there is a flight scheduled to arrive at 6:30 p.m. Friday from Islamabad, countering the claim the airline suspended flights to Toronto.Article contentThe flight tracking website FlightAware shows there are direct flights scheduled between the two cities on Thursday and Friday.Article contentFor its part, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) denied the claims about a missing crew and called the rumours “fake.”Article content“A tweet, circulated by certain anti-Pakistan quarters, claiming that whole crew of a particular #PIA flight is missing, is entirely baseless. Purpose of this tweet seems to malign PIA and #Pakistan,” the airline said on X.Article contentAIRLINE’S CREW HAVE DISAPPEARED BEFORE Article contentIn 2024, Pakistan International Airlines said around eight flight attendants disappeared in Toronto over the past year and a half, and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada.Article contentOne flight attendant left a “thank you” note in her Toronto hotel room before disappearing in 2024.Article contentIn November this year, the airline said it was investigating after a flight attendant did not board a return flight from Toronto to Lahore, Pakistan, citing ill health.Trending Tax Court overturns CRA decision to deny bitcoin loss writeoff Taxes Philip Cross: The sad story of Justin Trudeau’s 'youthful idiots' FP Comment Posthaste: Here's where home prices plunged the most in tough year for Canada's housing market News Welcome to the K-shaped economy: Canadians look back on a 'brutal,' 'great' year in Trump's trade war Economy SpaceX’s record IPO plan has investors rushing to a niche ETF Investor Article contentA spokesperson said the airline attributes the disappearances to Canada’s “liberal asylum” policies, The Media Line reported via The Jerusalem Post.Article contentThe airline only staffs its Toronto-bound flights with crew members who have firm links to Pakistan and avoids sending single crew members or those without established family ties, CTV News reported in 2024.Article contentAn immigration lawyer told the broadcaster that he represented two of the flight attendants who went missing, and said they sought asylum for claims related to gender and religious persecution, as well as domestic violence.Article contentThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2025.Article contentShare this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Tax Court overturns CRA decision to deny bitcoin loss writeoff Taxes Philip Cross: The sad story of Justin Trudeau’s 'youthful idiots' FP Comment Posthaste: Here's where home prices plunged the most in tough year for Canada's housing market News Welcome to the K-shaped economy: Canadians look back on a 'brutal,' 'great' year in Trump's trade war Economy SpaceX’s record IPO plan has investors rushing to a niche ETF Investor