What happened
On 17 January 2025, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-150, an Airbus A320-214 with registration AP-BON, performed an unintended landing on runway 36L at Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIAP), Lahore. The aircraft was operating a scheduled commercial service from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Multan, Pakistan.
Due to severe weather conditions and low visibility in Multan, the flight crew decided to divert to Lahore. At the time of the incident, Lahore was operating under Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) due to heavy fog. The aircraft was cleared for an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to runway 36R. However, during the diversion planning phase, the pilot monitoring incorrectly entered the ILS frequency for runway 36L into the Flight Management System (FMS). Consequently, the aircraft followed the signal for the unintended runway and landed on 36L instead of the designated 36R. There were no injuries to passengers or crew, and no damage was reported to the aircraft or ground infrastructure.
The investigation
The Bureau of Aircraft Safety Investigation (BASIP) examined the flight operations, cockpit communications, and organizational factors. The investigation reviewed the Flight Management System inputs, the crew's performance during the diversion, and the coordination between the flight crew and Air Traffic Control (ATC). The authority also assessed the training records of the crew and the operational environment at both the airline and the airport authority.