A pilot from Pakistan apparently doesn’t seem to love the idea of working overtime. In a series of bizarre incidents, passengers of a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Riyadh were left stranded after the pilot had refused to fly after his shift had ended.

According to The Express Tribune, flight PK-9754 took off from Riyadh for Islamabad. After an emergency landing in Dammam, Saudi Arabia due to weather disruptions, the pilot declined to fly the airplane through the rest of the journey, stating that his shift was done for the day.

While the pilot remains unnamed, local media reports state that passengers were infuriated by the tantrum and had refused to deboard the airplane due to the preexisting delay. After the situation intensified, airport security took over to bring the situation under control.

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 At last, pilot-less passengers were offered hotel accommodations until another flight could be made available.

 In conversation with The Gulf News, a spokesperson for Pakistan International Airlines justified the reason behind the incident, stating that airline pilots require sufficient rest to ensure safety while flying. The spokesperson added that the passengers have been provided hotel accommodation for the delay.

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 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the largest airline in Pakistan. The carrier had expanded its operations to Saudi Arabia last year.

As bizarre as the incident may sound, it certainly isn’t one of a kind. Just last year, several passengers were left stranded in Europe after an emergency landing in Dublin, Ireland due to engine failure.

According to a study conducted by Airlines Rating, Pakistan International Airlines, the national carrier of its country, was ranked as the worst airline in matters of passenger and crew safety.

In 2020, a PIA Airbus A320 had a collision in a populated area, causing over 100 fatalities. The airline has undergone various instances of engine failures and other disruptions over the years.