An air hostess was hospitalized following a violent attack by Saima Jogezai, the daughter of the former Quetta Commissioner, aboard Serene Air flight ER540 on March 18, 2025. The incident occurred after a confrontation over seatbelt compliance, which escalated into a physical altercation. Jogezai, who was reportedly intoxicated, struck the air hostess, causing serious injuries, including a bloodied nose and broken teeth. This shocking attack has raised significant concerns about the rising issue of passenger misconduct on Pakistani airlines and the need for improved security measures to protect crew members and ensure passenger safety.

On March 18, 2025, a shocking incident aboard Serene Air flight ER540, traveling from Quetta (UET) to Islamabad (ISB), left a Pakistani air hostess injured and raised concerns about safety in the country’s aviation sector. The altercation occurred when Saima Jogezai, the daughter of former Quetta Commissioner Iftikhar Ahmed, physically assaulted a flight attendant after a confrontation regarding seatbelt compliance.

The Incident: Flight ER540

The incident began when both Saima Jogezai and her father boarded the flight visibly intoxicated. The situation escalated quickly when the cabin crew instructed Jogezai to fasten her seatbelt before takeoff. In response, Jogezai allegedly became verbally abusive toward the crew. Airline officials reported that she was not the only disruptive passenger; her father, Iftikhar Ahmed, appeared intoxicated as well.

Despite the cabin crew’s repeated requests for compliance, the confrontation between Jogezai and the flight attendants became more heated. The tension continued to rise until the pilot made the decision to abort the takeoff and requested the presence of airport security personnel to remove the disruptive passengers.

Escalation to Physical Violence

As security personnel arrived to handle the situation, Jogezai refused to leave the aircraft. In what was described as an explosive outburst, she allegedly struck the air hostess, leaving the attendant with a bloodied nose and broken teeth. The assault prompted an immediate intervention by the Airport Security Force (ASF), who detained both Jogezai and her father at the airport.

Despite the serious nature of the incident, airline management confirmed that Balochistan authorities, including the current Quetta Commissioner, pressured the airline and the airport security to resolve the matter without formal legal action. This intervention raised concerns about the influence of politically connected individuals and their ability to escape consequences for their actions.

Apology and Release Without Legal Consequences

Following the pressure from local authorities, including the Quetta Commissioner, both Jogezai and her father issued a written apology for their behavior. Subsequently, they were released from custody without facing legal repercussions, despite the severity of the assault. Meanwhile, the injured air hostess required hospital treatment for her injuries.

This case is emblematic of a troubling pattern of unruly behavior aboard Pakistani flights. While the airline involved, Serene Air, has not made further comments on the matter, it has added fuel to growing concerns about flight safety, passenger misconduct, and the treatment of airline staff in Pakistan.

A Growing Problem in Pakistan’s Aviation Industry

This incident is far from an isolated one. Pakistan’s aviation sector has seen a troubling rise in incidents of disruptive passengers in recent years. The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other private carriers have had their share of incidents involving misconduct, including physical confrontations, verbal abuse, and non-compliance with safety regulations.

In 2019, a Pakistani politician was involved in a physical altercation with a flight attendant aboard a domestic PIA flight after being asked to extinguish a cigarette. In 2021, another incident occurred when a passenger tried to enter the cockpit of a Karachi-bound flight, leading to a security breach. Furthermore, in 2022, aviation authorities recorded 87 incidents of disruptive behavior aboard Pakistani carriers, including verbal abuse, refusal to comply with safety instructions, and physical confrontations with crew members.

Root Causes of Disruptive Behavior

Aviation experts and safety officials attribute this ongoing issue to multiple factors. One of the most concerning is the insufficient enforcement of air safety regulations, which allows disruptive passengers to go unpunished. Additionally, politically connected individuals, such as those from influential families or high-ranking government officials, often escape the consequences of their actions, further exacerbating the problem.

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) attempted to address the growing concern in 2023 by implementing stricter penalties for unruly passenger behavior. However, enforcement remains inconsistent, especially when influential passengers are involved. This lack of accountability has led to an environment where crew members are often left powerless in the face of unruly passengers, undermining both safety and morale among staff.

The Role of Serene Air in Addressing Passenger Misconduct

As a relatively young private airline, Serene Air has faced its share of challenges in maintaining passenger behavior standards. Established in 2017, the airline has made significant strides in establishing a reputation for service, but this recent incident has put a spotlight on its protocols for dealing with disruptive passengers.

Industry experts are now calling for a reevaluation of the airline’s procedures for handling unruly passengers and ensuring that flight attendants are adequately protected from physical harm. Passengers, too, have raised concerns about whether enough is being done to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place.

Industry Response and Calls for Change

The attack on the air hostess has sparked widespread public outrage, particularly after visual evidence of the assault surfaced on social media. Many are questioning not only the actions of the perpetrators but also the preferential treatment they received due to their political connections. In light of this, aviation unions in Pakistan have called for stronger protections for airline crew members, including the implementation of consistent enforcement of safety regulations, regardless of a passenger’s social or political status.

In the wake of this incident, the broader aviation community has raised alarms about the safety of flight attendants and the ability of airlines to handle disruptive passengers effectively. Airlines, particularly in Pakistan, are now facing increased pressure to take a more proactive approach in tackling this issue and ensuring that similar incidents are prevented in the future.

Conclusion

The assault of a Pakistani air hostess aboard Serene Air flight ER540 by Saima Jogezai is a troubling reminder of the growing issue of unruly passengers in Pakistan’s aviation sector. Despite the violence involved, the perpetrators have faced minimal consequences, raising concerns about the influence of political connections in the country.

As the incident continues to spark debate, it underscores the need for stronger enforcement of air safety regulations, better protection for crew members, and a more consistent approach to dealing with disruptive passengers. The Pakistani aviation industry must take significant steps to restore passenger safety and ensure that airline staff are no longer subjected to such attacks.

This incident highlights the urgency of addressing these challenges within the aviation sector, not just in Pakistan, but globally. It is clear that the safety of flight attendants and passengers alike must be prioritized, and meaningful reforms must be implemented to prevent further occurrences of this nature.

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