Chinese national detained after breaching security at Islamabad airport

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities detained a Chinese national at the New Islamabad International Airport after he allegedly entered a restricted departure area using a fake airline ticket in a major security lapse.

According to airport and security sources, the incident took place at the Islamabad airport while international flights were in operation, including services bound for China.

The individual, identified as Meng Chi, allegedly entered the international departure briefing and lounge area along with his family using what appeared to be a forged China Southern Airlines ticket, the sources said.

His family members were travelling on flight CZ 8070, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Initial findings suggest that personnel of the Airports Security Force (ASF) allowed entry after only verifying the ticket and did not properly check the passenger’s passport or travel documents, the sources added.

The breach reportedly went undetected until the man attempted to leave the secure area.

He was stopped at an exit checkpoint, where further scrutiny revealed irregularities in his entry process.

Security personnel detained the individual and transferred him to a control room before handing him over to airport police for further investigation, officials said.

Authorities described the incident as a serious security breach at a sensitive facility and said an inquiry had been launched to determine lapses in protocol and accountability.

Pakistan’s international airports operate under strict multi-layered security procedures, particularly in departure zones, where access is typically limited to verified passengers with valid travel documents.

Officials said further action would be taken following the completion of the investigation.