AP-BID has a knack for finding trouble. The Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777-300ER has been involved in several incidents since taking to the skies in 2008. Bird strikes, unruly passengers, too many passengers, engine failures. If I saw this B77W waiting for me at the other side of the terminal gate, I’d consider running!
We photographed this airliner on August 7, 2020 while plane spotting at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). It was a bit of a departure from the airline’s usual Boeing 777-200LR models flown to Canada.
For full-size, high resolution versions for any of the photos in the image gallery, simply click on the individual pictures. See below for more detailed information on AP-BID, the Boeing 777-300ER model in general and the airline.
Image Gallery
AP-BID
Boeing 777-300ER
Pakistan International Airlines
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AP-BID PIA Boeing 777-300ER Image Gallery
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AP-BID
AP-BID performed its first flight on March 18, 2008. The Boeing 77-340ER was delivered to Pakistan International Airlines on March 28, 2008. This is one of four B77W models in the fleet and it is the largest airliner PIA has to offer.
This aircraft is configured for a maximum total of 393 passengers. There are 35 seats in business class, 54 more in premium economy and 304 economy class seats.
See more aircraft at our Pakistan International Airlines fleet page.
Access all our featured aircraft at the Airplane Index Page.
Incidents
In what seems to be a common issue where this airplane calls home, on December 26, 2012 AP-BID suffered a bird strike. Flying from Karachi, Pakistan to Dhaka, Bangladesh, a bird was ingested into one of the engines while on approach to the destination. However, no damage was found and the Boeing 777-300ER landed safely.
The passengers were the problem on May 24, 2013. Flying from Lahore, Pakistan to Manchester, England, two male passengers repeatedly attempted to access the cockpit. An RAF fighter jet was dispatched to monitor the situation and the flight was diverted to London Stanstead Airport. The two men were arrested and charged with endangering an aircraft.
Ground maintenance was at fault on September 8, 2015. Flying from JFK Airport in New York City to Lahore, the initial climb was halted at 6,000 feet due to a gear disagree indication. After an hour of holding, attempts to fix the problem were unsuccessful and the aircraft returned to JFK for a safe landing. The problem was found to be a nose gear pin installed by maintenance but not removed.
This one’s concerning. On January 20, 2017, AP-BID was flying from Karachi to Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The aircraft departed before all passengers were seated. Seven additional passengers boarded after all seats were occupied. The scary part is, they were issued hand written boarding passes.
January 28, 2017 was another day for the birds. Flying from Lahore to Milan, Italy, the airplane struck a bird while on approach. the aircraft landed safely but minor damage to the tail needed to be fixed.
Again with the passengers. On February 2, 2017, this Boeing 777-300ER was flying from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Islamabad, Pakistan. Cruising at 35,000 feet over Saudi soil (sand), a passenger’s mobile phone battery had a melt down. It was contained and safely stowed. The flight continued on as planned.
It was purely mechanical on August 8, 2018. On a flight from Lahore to Jeddah, an engine failed on the takeoff run. The takeoff was rejected at high speed, resulting in damage to four of the six left main tires. It is rumoured that the engine failure was yet again due to a bird strike. AP-BGY, a Boeing 777-200LR was brought in to continue the flight.
Boeing 777-300ER
The Boeing 777-300ER was first delivered to launch customer Air France in 2004, nearly a decade after the initial 777 variant was introduced with United Airlines in 1995. The ER is for ‘extended range’ and this aircraft can fly a lofty 13,650 kilometres between stops.
The B77W is 74 metres or 242 feet in length with a wingspan of 65 metres or 213 feet. At the tail, the airliner is 19 metres or 61 feet in height. Though not the most glamorous of the big airplanes, the Boeing 777-300ER is longer than both the Boeing 747-400 (by 10 feet) and Airbus A380-800 (by 3 feet).
Pakistan International Airlines
The national carrier of Pakistan was founded in 1946 as Orient Airways. In 1955, the airline became Pakistan International Airlines. PIA is headquartered in Karachi at Jinnah International Airport.
PIA travels to 30 domestic and 36 international destinations in 28 different countries. There are 43 planes in the fleet, consisting of Airbus A320, ATR 42-500 and 72-500, along with Boeing 777-200er, -200lr and -300er.
The airline retired its last Boeing 747 in 2015. An oddity amongst the world’s airlines, PIA also retired the last of its Boeing 737’s in 2015.