A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft operating as Flight PK860 from Jeddah to Lahore was compelled to execute an emergency diversion to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Friday, December 19th, following the emergence of a significant technical malfunction during its journey. The incident, which occurred while the Airbus A320 was traversing Saudi airspace, prompted the cockpit crew to declare a general emergency, signaled by setting the transponder to code 7700. This critical alert triggered the automatic deployment of passenger oxygen masks throughout the cabin, according to multiple Pakistani media outlets. A spokesperson for the national carrier confirmed that the aircraft, carrying 381 individuals including numerous Umrah pilgrims, landed safely without injury to any passengers or crew. PIA subsequently coordinated a rescue flight dispatched from Pakistan to transport the stranded travelers to their original destination in Lahore. Aviation authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the precise nature of the technical fault that led to the emergency protocol.