KANDAHAR/ISLAMABAD – Unidentified assailants fired several rockets near Afghanistan’s Kandahar airport on Tuesday when a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ATR aircraft was on the runway ready for departure.
The flight PK-199, with 20 passengers and four crew members on board, was ready to depart for Quetta when eight to 10 rockets fired from multiple sides landed close the airport.
However, PIA officials confirmed that the passengers and flight crew were safe and that there was no damage to the aircraft.
A PIA spokesman said the flight PK-199 was expected to depart at 11:20 am (PST) but, due to closure of airport and air traffic after rocket attack, it was delayed as a precautionary measure.
It took off at 1:20 pm (PST) when the airspace was opened and the aircraft was allowed to takeoff, the spokesman said. He said flight landed safely at Quetta airport later at 2:15 pm (PST).