The Pakistani media alleged that Mumbai airport denied an emergency landing to Saudia flight SA805 on February 20 from Dhaka to Riyadh, citing a medical emergency. Mumbai ATC, AAI, and sources from Mumbai airport clarified that the flight was given permission to land but chose to go around, eventually landing at Karachi airport due to the passenger’s deteriorating condition.

Industry veteran Captain Skahti Lumba criticised the incident on X, saying, “Saudi plane makes emergency landing in Karachi after India ‘refuses’ to offload ailing Muslim passenger. What a Shame refusing an emergency landing due to the nationality of the passenger.” Saudia flight SA 805 took off at 3.57 am, it encountered a medical emergency en route from Dhaka to Riyadh. The passenger, Abu Tahir, faced a medical crisis, leading to the aircraft landing at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi at 7.28 am.