https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/pakistan-pilots-grounded-intl-hnk-scli/Pakistan's national carrier has grounded almost a third of its pilots after a government investigation revealed that hundreds across the country had fake licenses and were not qualified to fly.
In a letter to the government Friday, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said 141 of its 450 pilots will not be "utilized for any flying duties" as they had "suspicious licenses."
The letter -- sent by PIA General Manager Syed Qamar Maqbool -- was shared with CNN on Monday by the company's spokesperson, Abdullah Khan.
On Wednesday last week, Pakistan Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said 262 pilots in the country "did not take the exam themselves" and had paid someone else to sit it on their behalf.
"They don't have flying experience," he said.
Pakistan has 860 active pilots flying for its domestic airlines as well as a number of foreign carriers.
This action happened after an airline crash of a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Lahore to Karachi crashed on May 22, killing 98 people (97 on the plane, and 1 person on the ground).
