Vanishes in Canada: Another Pakistan Airlines air hostess goes missing; leaves uniform and 'thank you' note

Maryam Raza, a crew member member of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), touched down in Toronto aboard PIA flight PK-782 from Islamabad on Monday. However, she failed to return to her duties on the return leg, PK-784 bound for Karachi, the Dawn reported. When authorities investigated her hotel room, they discovered her uniform accompanied by a note expressing gratitude to PIA: ‘Thank you, PIA’. Raza, who has served with the national carrier for 15 years, was assigned to the Islamabad-Toronto route.

This marks the second occurrence this year of a PIA stewardess seemingly disappearing upon arrival in Canada, The report said, citing an airline spokesperson. The trend is attributed to the favorable asylum laws in Canada, providing an avenue for individuals seeking refuge after entering the country. Just last month, a similar incident unfolded when an air hostess failed to report for the return journey after arriving in Canada.

In the preceding year, at least seven PIA cabin crew members vanished in Canada while on duty, highlighting a troubling pattern. According to the airline's spokesperson, one crew member who absconded during duty years ago has since settled in Canada and now purportedly advises others contemplating seeking asylum, according to the report. Efforts are underway, with PIA management collaborating with Canadian authorities to deter such incidents in the future.


In November 2023, two senior flight attendants, Khalid Mehmood and Feda Hussain, also absconded upon arrival in Canada after flying in from Islamabad on PIA flight PK772. They failed to return to Pakistan as scheduled, resulting in the flight's return to Islamabad without them.

To mitigate such occurrences, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) implemented new directives in 2021 for its cabin crew, including the confiscation of passports upon arrival abroad. These measures aim to address the recent incidents of staff "slipping away" in foreign countries.