PIA crew barred from leaving UK

LONDON: Five crew members of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flight PK-788 were instructed on Monday not to leave the United Kingdom by UK Border Agency officials in connection with a possible money laundering investigation.

PK-788 was scheduled to depart from London Heathrow on Sunday evening. The flight was delayed for over two hours when UKBA officials detained the flight crew for interrogation. It has been reported that members the crew were found carrying cash in excess of the permitted legal allowance.

It was earlier reported that the detained crew members were allowed to return to their hotel and would return home on the next available flight. Geo News confirmed Monday evening that UKBA officials have instructed the crew not to leave the UK.

Initially, PIA officials claimed that while crew members were questioned, nothing out of the ordinary was found in their baggage and that they were all allowed to leave after questioning.