Pakistan Airline Ad Sparks Global Outrage Over Accusations of 9/11 Imagery

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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.

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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