In 1979, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) launched an ad campaign to attract travelers to its flights between New York and Europe. The ad featured a simple but striking image: the shadow of a PIA jetliner cast over the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The slogan read: “Visit New York before it becomes old-fashioned.”
The ad was meant to showcase PIA’s modern and efficient service, as well as the appeal of the Big Apple as a destination. But little did the airline know that the ad would become a haunting prophecy of one of the worst terrorist attacks in history.
More than two decades later, on September 11, 2001, two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, destroying the iconic buildings and killing nearly 3,000 people. The attackers were members of al-Qaeda, a militant Islamist group led by Osama bin Laden, who had declared war on the United States and its allies.
The 1979 PIA ad, which had appeared in several French magazines, resurfaced on the internet after the 9/11 attacks, sparking curiosity and controversy. Some people thought the ad was a fake, created after the attacks to spread conspiracy theories or mock the tragedy. Others wondered if the ad was a coincidence, a warning, or a sign of a hidden connection between Pakistan and al-Qaeda.
The truth is that the ad was neither a hoax nor a clue. It was a genuine PIA ad, verified by the original sources and the ad agency that created it. It was also a product of its time, when the World Trade Center was a new and impressive landmark, and when the threat of terrorism was not as prominent as it is today.
The ad was not intended to be offensive or provocative, but rather to highlight PIA’s competitive edge in the global market. PIA was one of the first airlines to fly the Boeing 747, the world’s largest passenger jet at the time, and to offer direct flights from New York to Paris and London. The ad was also a reflection of PIA’s pride and ambition, as the national carrier of a developing country that had gained its independence in 1947.
The 1979 PIA ad is a fascinating piece of history, but also a reminder of how the world has changed since then. What was once a harmless and clever marketing strategy became a chilling premonition of a horrific event that shook the world. The ad also shows how images can acquire new meanings and interpretations over time, depending on the context and the perspective of the viewer.