A Saudi Airlines flight from Riyadh experienced a harrowing incident upon landing at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport, as its landing gear caught fire. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) swiftly responded, ensuring the safe evacuation of all 276 passengers and 21 crew members on board.
According to reports from the Dawn newspaper, air traffic controllers observed smoke and sparks emanating from the left-hand side landing gear of the aircraft as it touched down. Promptly, they alerted the pilots and mobilized airport fire and rescue services.
CAA spokesperson Saifullah confirmed that fire vehicles reached the scene quickly and managed to extinguish the flames engulfing the landing gear. He emphasized that the timely response of the fire tenders prevented a potentially catastrophic incident, saving the aircraft from major damage.
“All 276 passengers and 21 crew members were safely evacuated using inflatable slides,” Saifullah stated, highlighting the successful execution of emergency protocols.
Officials at Peshawar airport reassured the public that operations remain unaffected, with flights continuing as scheduled. The incident, while alarming, did not disrupt airport activities beyond the immediate response to the emergency.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is expected, as authorities focus on ensuring safety measures are reinforced to prevent such incidents in the future. Saudi Airlines has not issued an official statement regarding the incident at the time of reporting.
Sources By Agencies
