Saudia aircraft sees tyre burst at airport

Saudia Airlines’ Boeing aircraft arriving from Jeddah faced a suspected fire onboard on Tuesday morning. The incident took place around 7.30 am when the aircraft was moving towards the bay for parking.

Confirming the incident, official spokesperson of Mumbai International airport limited informed The Asian Age that the aircraft suffered a tyre burst and the flying officer of the aircraft noticed smoke emanating from it. However, all passengers escaped unhurt in the incident. But officials from Saudi airlines refused to comment on the incident.

According to the sources from Mumbai airport, Saudia flight number 744, had arrived from Jeddah around 7.30 am. Later, upon landing and exiting through taxiway, the captain of the aircraft noticed smoke emerging from the aircraft. He immediately informed his airline officer and air traffic control about it. As per the standard operating procedure, the engine was switched off immediately to avert any untoward incident. The aircraft stayed on the taxiway for 90 minutes and a fire inspection was carried out.

No smoke or fire was detected on board the aircraft. The aircraft was then towed to the parking bay with assistance from a follow-me vehicle. “No fire control assistance was sought in the incident,” said a source. According to sources from the airport, the Boeing 777-200 plane had suffered a tyre burst. But they also suspect that the aircraft was having problems in its hydraulic system and chances are that pilot saw the leakage and smoke due to the hydraulic disturbance in the aircraft. After the checking the aircraft, passengers were offloaded and sent to the terminal gate by an aero-bridge.