LONDON: A Karachi-bound Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight departed for its destination from London after a 26-hour long delay.

PIA flight PK-788, scheduled to fly from London’s Heathrow Airport to Karachi’s Jinnah Terminal, delayed by nearly 26 hours due to technical issues.

The 350 passengers boarding the flight to Karachi passed a miserable time with severe problems due to the delay. They were accommodated in a hotel by the PIA administration.

PIA has been a target of criticism over poor safety record. Recently, 47 people were killed when an ATR jet of the national airliner crashed near Havelian.

Another ATR jet of PIA, scheduled to take off from Multan for Karachi flight with at least 40 passengers on board, caught fire before taking off.

Later, Pakistan International Airline grounded all of its 10 ATR aircrafts after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ordered shakedown tests of the planes.