Peshawar: A Saudi Airlines flight from Riyadh caught fire upon landing at Pakistan's Peshawar Airport on Thursday, Dawn reported. According to the statement released by the airline, its aircraft, flying from Riyadh to Peshawar on flight SV792, experienced smoke emanating from one of the tyres during landing at Peshawar International Airport in Pakistan.
According to CAA spokesperson Saifullah, air traffic controllers observed smoke and sparks coming from the left-hand side landing gear of the aircraft during landing and promptly alerted the pilots. Concurrently, they notified the airport fire and rescue services. Upon arrival, CAA fire vehicles successfully extinguished the flames that had engulfed the landing gear, as stated in the announcement.
"The fire tenders acted swiftly and effectively to contain the fire in the landing gear, preventing a potentially serious incident," Saifullah commented. "All 276 passengers and 21 crew members were safely evacuated using an inflatable slide." Peshawar airport officials have confirmed that the airport is operational, and all flights will proceed according to their schedules.
American Airlines flight loses tyre during takeoff in Florida
Earlier on Wednesday, a Boeing aircraft flying under the banner of American Airlines heading towards Phoenix, Arizona, lost one of its tyres during takeoff and caught fire at the airport in Tampa, Florida. The flight was delayed after taking off from Tampa after the 'mechanical issue' on the runway, an airline spokesperson told USA Today. The plane was carrying 174 passengers and six crew members when it was about to leave Florida.
Emergency responders responded to the scene just before 8 am (local time) when it came to light that one of the plane tyres had exploded and caught on fire, as it stopped at the end of the runway. However, everyone on board, including the passengers and crew, was "safely deplaned and bussed to the terminal", said airline spokesperson Alfredo Garduno.
Smoke and flame could be seen coming out of the plane, identified as a Boeing 737-900 aircraft as one of its tyres exploded during takeoff and now the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is probing the incident after pilots mentioned experiencing "multiple blown tyres". The flight was manufactured by Boeing-- a firm which has been facing multiple scrutiny following severe security issues.
(With inputs from agencies)
