KARACHI — An Emirates Airline flight faced a mid-air navigation scare on Tuesday night when its GPS system malfunctioned shortly before landing at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, aviation officials confirmed.
Flight EK606, en route to Karachi, reported the disruption while descending to about 3,000 feet, just minutes from touchdown. The captain immediately alerted Karachi Air Traffic Control (ATC), which stepped in to provide navigational support and ensure a safe approach. Despite the glitch, the aircraft landed smoothly on Runway 25L without further incident.
Officials said the issue stemmed from a loss of GPS signal rather than any fault with local systems. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) later clarified in a statement that navigation equipment at all domestic airports, including Karachi, is fully functional. “GPS signals are not transmitted from the ground; they are satellite-based. Aircraft also rely on multiple backup systems such as INS, VOR, ILS, and ATC guidance,” the statement added.
Experts note that solar storms, electronic jamming, spoofing, or cyber disruptions can interfere with GPS reception, occasionally causing complications for aircraft during critical flight phases.
This is not the first such incident. In February, flights near Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad also reported similar GPS anomalies, prompting ATC to instruct pilots to immediately report any signal irregularities. Aviation authorities warned that such interference could lead to flight path deviations, stressing the importance of continuous monitoring and swift reporting by pilots.
While officials reassured that passenger safety was never compromised, the recurring disturbances have raised concerns within Pakistan’s aviation sector. Industry sources said regulators are stepping up efforts to identify and mitigate frequency interferences to safeguard flight operations.
