A Saudia Airlines flight carrying 250 Hajj pilgrims from Jeddah experienced a technical issue with its landing gear upon arrival at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport early Sunday morning, officials confirmed.
The flight, SV 3112, took off from Jeddah at 10:45 pm on Saturday and landed in Lucknow around 6:30 am Sunday. Shortly after landing, smoke and sparks were seen coming from the aircraft’s left wheel, prompting the pilot to stop the plane and alert air traffic control.
The aircraft was safely moved to the taxiway, and all passengers and crew were deboarded without injuries. The airport’s emergency response team reached the spot within minutes and controlled the situation using foam and water. Officials later traced the issue to a hydraulic leak, which caused overheating in the wheel assembly.
Experts noted that the glitch, if it had occurred during takeoff, could have resulted in a serious accident. The flight was part of the return leg for Hajj pilgrims and was scheduled to fly back empty to Saudi Arabia after landing in India.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, where a London-bound aircraft crashed into a medical college campus, killing 270 people, including 29 on the ground.
