Pakistan PM orders inquiry after national airline ad accused of evoking 9/11 imagery
GuardianJAN 18
Pakistan Airline Ad Sparks Global Outrage Over Accusations of 9/11 Imagery
Above: The promotional graphic posted by Pakistan International Airlines advertising flights to France. Image copyright: Pakistan International Airlines/X via CNN
The Facts
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an official investigation following criticism over a Pakistan International Airline (PIA) advertisement purportedly having perceived similarity to the imagery of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US.
On 9/11, hijackers crashed passenger jets into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC, killing nearly 3K people. The alleged mastermind of the attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, was arrested in Pakistan in 2003.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post last week, the country's national carrier shared an advert showing an aircraft flying toward the Eiffel Tower with the tagline "Paris, we're coming today" to celebrate the resumption of flights to Paris after a four-year suspension.
The Spin
Narrative A
The advertisement highlights a catastrophic marketing failure that shows complete disregard for historical sensitivity, particularly given Pakistan's connections to the 9/11 attacks through the presence of Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in the country.
Narrative B
The controversy overshadows PIA's significant achievement in resuming European operations after addressing safety concerns, potentially damaging the airline's efforts to rebuild its international reputation and financial stability through expanded routes.
Metaculus Prediction
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