Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has apologized after facing backlash for a controversial social media post that many criticized for its resemblance to the 9/11 attacks.
The post shared on PIA’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) featured an image of a plane heading toward the Eiffel Tower in Paris, with the caption: “Paris, we’re coming today.”
The post was intended to celebrate the airline’s first flight to Paris since the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban on PIA in November 2024.
However, the image drew criticism for its resemblance with the 9/11 attacks, in which two hijacked planes crashed into New York’s World Trade Center that took around 3,000 lives.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan addressed the controversy, acknowledging the public’s reaction and apologizing for any unintended offense.
“Unfortunately, this was blown out of proportion with connations and perceptions that were not intended,” Khan said, speaking to AFP.
Despite the criticism, Khan highlighted the positive response to PIA’s return to European operations and noted that flights to Paris were operating at over 95% capacity.
The controversial advertisement garnered millions of views on X, with less than 10% of the comments being negative.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the advertisement, calling it an act of “stupidity.” He confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an inquiry into the matter.