Flight Carrying 250 Hajj Pilgrims Escapes Crash During Landing in Lucknow; Sparks Seen from Wheel

Lucknow: A major aviation mishap was narrowly averted on Sunday morning at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport when a Saudi Airlines flight encountered a technical glitch while landing. The flight, which had arrived from Saudi Arabia carrying around 250 Hajj pilgrims, began emitting smoke and sparks from its wheels during touchdown at approximately 6:30 AM.

Thanks to the pilot’s alertness and calm response, the aircraft was safely landed despite the malfunction. Emergency alerts were immediately issued, prompting airport security and fire services to rush to the scene. All passengers were evacuated safely without any injuries.

The aircraft in question was Saudi Airlines flight SV 3112, which had departed from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, bringing back Indian pilgrims from the Hajj pilgrimage. During the final moments of landing in Lucknow, sparks and smoke were noticed coming from the landing gear, causing brief panic on the ground.

Upon noticing the issue, the pilot quickly informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) and coordinated with airport safety personnel. Firefighting teams responded swiftly and secured the runway area while ensuring all passengers were safely deboarded.

According to airport sources, the incident was caused by a hydraulic oil leak, which led to friction and the resulting smoke and sparks from the aircraft’s wheels. Engineers are currently working to resolve the technical issue with the plane.

Uttar Pradesh Hajj Committee Chairman and Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Danish Azad Ansari, confirmed the incident and assured the public that there was only a minor technical snag during landing. “The airport authorities handled the situation efficiently, and no harm came to any of the passengers, including the Hajj pilgrims,” he stated.

He further added that the Hajj Committee, along with the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, is in continuous coordination with Saudi Airlines and the Saudi Government to ensure the safe return of all Indian pilgrims from the Hajj pilgrimage.