A fire broke out in an aeroplane belonging to a foreign airline at the Peshawar airport on Thursday.
According to aviation sources, the fire broke out in the landing gear of Saudi Air flight, SV-792, from Riyadh during landing at the Peshawar airport. The air traffic controller informed the authorities about the fire.
The incident triggered emergency protocols as 276 passengers and a 21-member crew were swiftly evacuated using emergency slides.
On landing, firefighting crews responded promptly and managed to extinguish the flames engulfing the aircraft. Fortunately, no casualties were reported among the passengers or crew members. A few minor injured passengers were administered first aid.
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by airport authorities and aviation experts. Initial reports suggest that the fire erupted as the plane was touching down at the airport.
The incident caused temporary disruptions at Peshawar airport.
Following the incident, the airport was declared shut for 24 hours due to the presence of the plane on the airport taxiway. According to a Notice to Airmen (Notam), the duration of the runway closure will be from 10:35am today till the same time tomorrow. All flights to the Peshawar airport will be diverted to alternative airports.
Due to the lengthy aircraft removal operation, the duration of the runway closure may be prolonged.
