A Saudia flight from Riyadh caught fire after landing at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport in Pakistan on Thursday.
Upon landing, air traffic controllers noticed fire and smoke emanating from the left-hand side of the landing gear.
The controllers promptly informed the pilot and alerted rescue teams, who swiftly extinguished the flames.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and all crew and passengers were safely evacuated.
According to Samaa TV, a few passengers sustained minor injuries and received first aid.
The plane carried 276 passengers and 21 crew members, who disembarked using the emergency slide.
Fire broke out in the landing gear of a Saudi Airlines plane at Peshawar airport. 10 passengers injured, but all 276 passengers and 21 crew safely evacuated using the inflatable slide. No loss of life. The flight was en route to Riyadh. pic.twitter.com/yH4AXdVvUh
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) July 11, 2024
In a statement, Saudia announced that the aircraft was promptly halted and the relevant authorities were informed.
“Saudia clarifies that its aircraft, operating flight SV792 from Riyadh to Peshawar, experienced smoke emanating from one of the tires during landing at Peshawar International Airport in Pakistan. The aircraft was immediately stopped, and the relevant authorities were notified. All guests and crew were safely evacuated using the emergency slide,” reported ANI, quoting Saudia.
The airline stated that the aircraft is currently undergoing a technical evaluation by specialists.
According to Bloomberg, the aircraft involved is a seven-year-old Airbus A330-300.
“The fire tenders acted promptly and controlled the fire in the landing gear, preventing a major accident,” said Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson Saifullah, as quoted by DAWN.
Peshawar airport remains operational, and all flights are continuing as scheduled, according to Peshawar airport officials quoted by DAWN.
In related news, PTI reported in June that the Saudia Group is eager to increase the number of flights connecting Saudi Arabia and India and provide Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services to Indian carriers.
Saudia Airlines, part of the Saudia Group, currently operates 54 weekly flights connecting seven destinations in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
