29 hurt in stampede after plane emergency
Print Edition
TWENTY-NINE people were injured when a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight suffered a landing gear failure and was forced to make an emergency landing in the city of Medina early yesterday.
A technical failure prevented the crew from lowering the rear wheels on the right side of the Boeing 767-300, civil aviation spokesman Khaled bin Abdullah Khaybari said.
The airline confirmed the account, saying one of its leased aircraft had a minor accident. Saudi Arabian Airlines, also known as Saudia, is the desert kingdom’s national carrier and operates a fleet of more than 100 aircraft.
“Saudia expresses its deep sorrow to all the injured passengers as a result of the accident and pray to Allah the almighty that he may provide them with speedy recovery,” the airline said.
The flight was carrying 315 people from the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.
Fire and rescue teams were deployed at Medina’s Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport after the crew reported the landing gear problem and preparations were made for an emergency landing, Khaybari said.
The injuries happened during a stampede as passengers scrambled to evacuate the plane, Khaybari said. Most of those hurt suffered only minor injuries, though 11 were taken to hospital for treatment.
The airline reported that 12 passengers were taken to hospital, and that three remain in an unstable condition.
Versions of the Boeing 767, a twin-engine, widebody jet, have been in use for more than three decades.
Boeing expressed its concern for those who were on board the flight. “Boeing is prepared to provide technical assistance at the request of Saudi Arabian civil aviation authorities or the US National Transportation Safety Board,” it said.
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