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‘Between heaven and mortality’: Adnan Siddiqui recounts harrowing experience aboard Lahore-bound flight

‘Between heaven and mortality’: Adnan Siddiqui recounts harrowing experience aboard Lahore-bound flight

As his flight was hit by intense turbulence, the actor quietly typed out what he thought would be his final message to the world.
Updated 26 May, 2025

Actor Adnan Siddiqui took to Instagram on Sunday to share a chilling account of a recent flight he took from Karachi to Lahore. Posting a video that captured the panic inside the aircraft as it experienced major turbulence, Siddiqui shared a detailed note expressing everything he felt in that moment.

The flight, en route from Karachi to Lahore, began uneventfully before suddenly being rocked by violent turbulence while landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport. In the video shared by Siddiqui, the cabin is seen shaking, while terrified passengers scream and cry, their fear filling the cramped space as the aircraft jolts mid-air.

“Yesterday, somewhere between the sky over Karachi and the sprawling fields of Lahore, I found myself caught between heaven and a very real sense of mortality,” Siddiqui wrote. “What began as an ordinary flight quickly turned into the kind of moment that strips away the noise, the routine, the illusion of control and leaves you staring straight into the eyes of your fragility.”

The actor described the terrifying seconds when chaos took hold. “Gasps, cries, people clutching one another, some openly panicking. It was definitely chaotic. But beneath it all was a quiet, shared realisation that we were all at the mercy of something far beyond us.”

In that harrowing moment, he said, his thoughts went straight to his family. “I tried to stay calm, holding on not just to the armrest but to my thoughts, my breath, and my faith. And in those trembling seconds when life felt unsure, only one thing filled my heart: my family. My children’s faces. And I felt a sharp ache of leaving this world without one last hug from them, without telling them how much I love them.”

Siddiqui recalled praying for himself, for every soul on that plane, “strangers, yet suddenly bound together by fear, hope, the sheer intensity of the moment.” He prayed for mercy, a safe landing, and another chance at life. “A chance to live more gratefully, more presently, and to never again take another breath for granted.”

Thankfully, the aircraft made a safe landing after what Siddiqui described as a “clean, sharp go-around” just as the plane was about to touch down. “Kudos to the captain,” he wrote. “What presence of mind!”

The actor concluded his note with the reflection, “It wasn’t just the end of a flight. It was Allah’s grace. It is a powerful reminder that life is painfully fragile, heartbreakingly brief, and profoundly sacred. It’s a gift. Please don’t waste it. Keep your people close. And thank Allah for this moment, life, and chance.”

During this, Siddiqui wrote a farewell note — something that might be read at his funeral or, he half-joked, “go viral.”

“While this was happening, people were screaming and crying; I stayed oddly calm. Collected. I was so quiet that I opened my phone and wrote a quick goodbye note just in case. I wrote it like it might be read at my funeral…..or maybe go viral. When we landed, I read it, made a face, and deleted it. Still, I meant every word.”

Fellow actors filled his comments section with messages of gratitude for his and everyone else’s safe landing. “Thank God for the safety of everyone on that flight and you my dearest Adooooo,” commented Nadia Jamil. “Thank God everyone is safe,” wrote Kinza Hashmi. Areeba Habib, Ali Kazmi, Naeema Butt and Mooro, among others, commented in a similar vein.

Flight FL-842 from Karachi to Lahore narrowly avoided a disaster when it was caught in severe turbulence while landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport. The pilot aborted landing and safely returned to Karachi following air traffic control instructions, Geo News reported.

Passengers, shaken by repeated jolts, refused to re-board after landing in Karachi. Airport sources said 57 passengers cancelled their travel plans, delaying the flight’s re-departure.

Comments

Taj Ahmad May 26, 2025 01:58pm
Luckily everyone on this flight was safe and sound, weather was extremely bad with thunderstorms and heavy winds and lightning was very harmful. My salute to pilot and crew members as well.
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M. Saeed May 26, 2025 02:04pm
Planes are made safe for turbulences and there is a firm protocol to follow in such eventualities. Only the Pilots know the limits and the actions required in any situation. When any boards a plane, he has to rely on his planes pilot, who also is in the same plane.
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Laila May 26, 2025 02:52pm
And the jolts and turbulence was caused by what exactly? Issues with the air craft? What was the carrier name Air blue, PIA, Fly Jinnah etc? Kind of important information to include. No wonder people didn't want to re-board the plane.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 26, 2025 04:34pm
A great test of nerves and grit when it feels like the end of life in the mid-air aboard a plane.
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Ehsan May 26, 2025 07:55pm
Had the experience of going through highly turbulent flight a few years ago on PIA as well, what was so disturbing and unprofessional was rather than the crew announcing what was going on it just started blasting darood etc
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Hasni, Syed May 26, 2025 11:21pm
Turbulence is a common and benign phenomenon during flights, caused by factors like weather conditions, jet streams, and mountain waves. While it can be uncomfortable and sometimes alarming for passengers, modern aircraft are designed to withstand significant turbulence, and pilots are trained to manage it safely. Most injuries related to turbulence occur when passengers are not wearing their seatbelts, highlighting the importance of following safety protocols. Overall, turbulence is a normal part of flying, and maintaining a calm demeanor and keeping seatbelts fastened can help ensure a safe experience.
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Iqbal Aswani May 26, 2025 11:27pm
@Laila Has your utterly negative mind even seen a plane from inside?
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Patwari May 26, 2025 11:59pm
Well, the pilot did an exceptional job, did'nt he? So airline name is irrelevant here, isn't it?
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Saj May 27, 2025 12:36am
Adnan Siddiqui did not write that 'note'. ChatGPT did.
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White Noise May 27, 2025 02:05am
It is caused by various factors, given the recent weather, strong winds, down drafts, turbulence is also caused by other planes if they have been around the area. Pilots are trained to deal with such conditions.
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Ali Ghouse May 27, 2025 03:38am
I admire Adnan Siddiqui for his calmness. Life is fragile and not to be taken lightly. Each breath we take is a gift from the Almighty. Hence thank the Lord at each step. We are all created by Him and have to return to Him. Panic is for the weak in faith. Live life, but, with thanks to the Creator.
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bolo-BOLO May 27, 2025 10:32am
"The flight, en route from Karachi to Lahore, ........rocked by violent turbulence while landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport." " The pilot aborted landing and safely returned to Karachi following air traffic control instructions" WHAT? Which is correct, the flight landed at Lahore or returned to Karachi? Not making sense.
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x May 27, 2025 11:08am
@bolo-bolo what's not making sense? the plane was going to land, experienced turbulence, and then aborted the landing and headed back to karachi?
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Laila May 27, 2025 02:05pm
@Iqbal Aswani. Yes, more times than your utterly negative mind can ever hope to. Feel better. If you want to know what a plane looks like from the inside, I highly recommend travelling.
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Laila May 28, 2025 04:19am
While turbulence is not uncommon, there needs to be explanation and reasonings. It is no secret that Pakistanis aircrafts operate with old outdated engines. Hence the many accidents. Let's not forget the case of "turbulence" which cost nearly 100 in the PIA flight 8303 crash in 2020 costing 97 people out of 99 their lives. Or the infamous AirBlue flight 202 in 2010 costing all 152 passengers and staff members their lives. So in the context of Pakistan, its valid to ask questions. Especially considering the internal coverups and rigged investigations over time. It's unfortunate if some people want to construe these facts as negativity. Reality doesn't care about feelings.
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