Pakistan Airlines Apologises After Ad Showing Plane Flying Towards Eiffel Tower Causes Controversy

Recently, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) found itself in hot water for its poster commemorating the resumption of flights between Islamabad and Paris.

The ad which was posted across the airlines’ social media platforms on January 10 is titled, “Paris, we’re coming today” and depicts a plane flying towards the Eiffel Tower.

However, the post went viral for the wrong reasons, with users highlighting the insensitivity of such a post in light of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“It is stupidity”

According to Pakistani news outlet Profit, the issue resulted in Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif calling for an inquiry into the post.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who was addressing the matter during a parliamentary session said, “The prime minister has directed (authorities) to investigate who conceived this ad.”

“It’s stupidity to show the Eiffel Tower and a plane close together, facing it. A better design would have shown the plane flying above or in a different direction.”

PIA apologises

Following the outrage, on January 16, PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez apologised on behalf of the airline to those who felt hurt by the advertisement as told to The Associated Press.

“We want to make it clear that we had no intention to hurt the feelings of anyone.”

He said the ad was meant to celebrate the airline’s resumption of flights to Europe and never intended to harm 9/11 survivors or victims’ families.

Hafeez added that the Eiffel Tower was shown in the ad because it is one of the best places in the world, and said he was “surprised” by the criticism.

What do you think of the ad? Let us know in the comments.

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