Saudi airliner’s landing gear catches fire during touchdown at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International airport

PESHAWAR: A Saudi Airlines flight from Riyadh caught fire upon landing at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport on Thursday, prompting a swift evacuation of passengers and crew to safety, according to a statement issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

According to a CAA spokesperson, air-traffic controllers witnessed smoke and sparks emanating from the landing gear of the aircraft as it touched down at the Bacha Khan International Airport and alerted the pilots. At the same time, they informed the airport fire and rescue services.

“The fire tenders acted in time and immediately controlled the fire in the landing gear, saving the aircraft from a major accident,” said the spokesperson, Saifullah. “All 276 passengers and 21 crew members were safely evacuated with an inflatable slide.”

Video footage from the scene showed passengers disembarking the aircraft using the inflatable emergency slide. According to airport authorities, the airport is fully operational. – Bulletin Report/News Agencies