A 16-year-old Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered repeated technical malfunctions in recent weeks.
It includes a tire puncture on a flight from Medina to Multan and a fire during takeoff from Jeddah Airport.
The aircraft, bearing registration APBHV, was previously involved in technical malfunctions at Multan Airport on September 14 and 15, and at Jeddah Airport on September 18.
On September 28, the aircraft experienced a fire during takeoff from Jeddah Airport. The fire was extinguished and no one was injured, but the aircraft was forced to return to the airport.
PIA has not released any information about the cause of the repeated technical malfunctions in the aircraft but sources have told that it is in dire need of maintenance.
The incidents have raised concerns about the safety of PIA's fleet and have led to calls for the airline to ground such aeroplanes.
PIA has said that it is investigating the incidents and that it is committed to the safety of its passengers and crew.
In addition to technical malfunctions on the Boeing-777 aircraft, other aircraft in the fleet of flag carrier have also experienced several other incidents in recent months.
In August, an aeroplane was forced to make an emergency landing in Lahore after one of its engines failed and in July, a PIA aircraft was diverted to Karachi after a bird strike.
Some 48 passengers were off-loaded from the plane and the flight was cancelled.
The required parts from Islamabad were sent by flight to Skardu and the plane departed for Islamabad on October 6 after repairs.
This was the second PIA flight to be delayed due to a technical issue in recent weeks.
On August 31, a PIA flight from Islamabad to Gilgit was forced to return to the federal capital after developing a technical issue.
