Fire detected in cargo compartment of PIA aircraft shortly after it took off from Toronto airport for Karachi

KARACHI, August 30, 2026: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-784, travelling from Toronto to Karachi, was forced to return to Toronto after a fire alarm was triggered in the aircraft’s cargo area.

A PIA spokesperson said the captain informed air traffic control after receiving the fire warning and requested permission to make an emergency landing. The aircraft was cleared to return and landed safely at Toronto airport.

Following the landing, PIA’s engineering team began inspecting the aircraft, while fire brigade officials examined the cargo hold to determine the cause of the alarm.

In accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), all 130 passengers were disembarked and moved to the airport lounge, the spokesperson added.

The incident comes days after another PIA flight experienced a technical issue. On August 19, flight PK-713, travelling from Islamabad to Medina, was diverted to Karachi after a technical fault was detected while the aircraft was flying through UAE airspace.

The captain decided to return to Karachi as a precaution, according to the PIA spokesperson. The Boeing 777 was carrying more than 300 passengers, in addition to the crew, and had been airborne for over three hours when the issue occurred.

The aircraft turned back and landed safely at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, where the passengers were subsequently moved to the transit lounge.