 "Saudia Airlines. Representative Image / AP")
A major accident was averted at the Lucknow Airport on Sunday morning when a Saudia Airlines flight carrying Hajj pilgrims experienced a technical glitch while landing. The aircraft landed with sparks and smoke erupting on the runway, prompting an immediate emergency response.
According to the information obtained by News18, sparks and smoke erupted from the aircraft during touchdown at around 6:30 am. The aircraft, flight SV 3112, had departed from Jeddah at 10:45 pm the previous night. It was carrying 250 Hajj pilgrims and crew members onboard.
The incident occurred while the plane was taxiing on the runway. To prevent another tragedy, the pilot promptly brought the aircraft to a halt, and the airport’s fire and rescue team responded immediately. The authorities told the media that the situation was under control within 20 minutes.
What caused the incident
According to News18, a preliminary investigation reveals that a hydraulic system leak might have caused the incident. Meanwhile, aviation experts noted that the glitch, though minor during landing, could have resulted in a serious accident had it occurred during takeoff.
Meanwhile, the authorities noted that all passengers and crew were safe, and no injuries were reported after the snag. What makes it concerning is the fact that the incident came just days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was bound for London and was flying from Ahmedabad.
The crash led to the death of 241 people on board and 33 people on the ground. Only one Indian-origin British national survived the incident, raising concerns over flight safety and aircraft maintenance protocols.