A Saudia aircraft traveling from Riyadh to Peshawar caught fire after landing at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport in Pakistan on Thursday. The fire and smoke were spotted on the left-hand side of the landing gear by air traffic controllers. They quickly informed the pilot and rescue teams. Fire vehicles were then deployed to extinguish the flames.
Fortunately, there were no casualties reported in the incident. Authorities managed to safely evacuate all 276 passengers and 21 crew members. Video footage captured the passengers disembarking the aircraft through the emergency slides, ensuring their safety.
Some passengers sustained minor injuries and were given first aid, according to Samaa TV. In a statement, Saudia confirmed that the aircraft was stopped immediately and the relevant authorities were notified. The airline reported, “Saudia clarifies that its aircraft, flying from Riyadh to Peshawar on flight SV792, 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 through the evacuation slide.”
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The aircraft, a seven-year-old Airbus A330-300, is now undergoing technical evaluation by specialists. Bloomberg provided details about the aircraft’s age, and DAWN quoted Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson Saifullah, who praised the fire tenders for their timely action in controlling the fire and preventing a major accident.
Peshawar airport remains operational, and all flights will continue as scheduled, according to airport officials quoted by DAWN. In related news, PTI reported in June that the Saudia Group is looking to increase the number of flights connecting Saudi Arabia and India and provide Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services to Indian carriers.
Currently, Saudia operates 54 weekly flights connecting seven destinations in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
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