An international airline’s landing gear caught fire after landing in Peshawar on July 11, 2024, but all 276 passengers and 21 crew members were safely evacuated. The flight had taken off from Riyadh for Peshawar and experienced smoke and subsequently a fire broke out in the left landing gear while maneuvering in a loop near the runway.
The Air Traffic Controller promptly communicated the incident to the pilot, and the fire and rescue services, who arrived in time and were able to swiftly extinguish the fire. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Board has taken notice of the incident and a team will begin investigating the incident soon.
A video from the scene showed smoke billowing from under the aircraft which had over 200 people on board. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft using the inflatable slide as shown in another video from the scene. The evacuation process was swift and efficient, thanks to the quick response of the airport’s emergency services.
According to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), air traffic controllers observed smoke and sparks coming from the left-side landing gear of the aircraft during landing. The fire tenders acted in time and immediately controlled the fire in the landing gear, saving the aircraft from a major accident.
The aircraft, a seven-year-old Airbus A330-300, is now undergoing comprehensive inspections and subsequent tests to ensure its safety. Saudi Airlines issued a statement soon after saying that the plane “experienced smoke emanating from one of the tires during landing at Peshawar International Airport in Pakistan”. The airline also confirmed that all passengers and crew members were safe and that an investigation into the incident was underway.
The incident highlights the importance of swift emergency response and the preparedness of airport authorities in handling such situations. The safe evacuation of all onboard is a testament to the effectiveness of the emergency procedures in place. The investigation into the incident will aim to determine the cause of the fire and identify measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
