RIYADH – A full emergency plan was activated at King Saud Airport in Al-Baha Thursday afternoon after a Russian-made Antonov 12 bound for Khartoum requested permission for emergency landing.
Shortly after the Sudanese-owned aircraft took off from Khamis Mushayt airport in the southern Asir province, a technical fault was detected in the plane's engine number four, SPA said.
The plane, with 10 passengers and crewmembers on board, made a safe emergency landing at 4 p.m. However, one of the tires burst during the landing, trapping the plane on the runway. Air traffic at the airport was disrupted for several hours as a result. Saudi Arabian Airlines' flight No. SV1715 was diverted to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and several departing flights were delayed.
The plane was towed away from the runway using special machinery made available by the airport authority. The airport was reopened at 7.51 p.m. after a technical team examined the runway and ensured its safety.
