Saudi Airlines Hajj flight had technical difficulties, did not catch fire

Civil aviation authorities have denied internet media reports that a Saudi Airlines Hajj flight had caught fire.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 July 2017, 04:41 AM
Updated : 26 July 2017, 04:41 AM

The aircraft had technical difficulties which only led to a short delay in the flight, the officials said.

The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, the second day of Hajj flights. Soon afterwards news spread that the plane had caught fire, alarming many.

“There are no reports of any fire on an aircraft at the airport,” Uttara Fire Station Senior Station official Shafiqul Islam told bdnews24.com. “The fire service would be notified of any fire aboard an aircraft.”

“No Saudi Airlines aircraft caught fire,” said Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Director Kazi Iqbal Kabir.

“These reports cause alarm among Hajj pilgrims and are completely unnecessary.”

The flight carrying 316 Hajj pilgrims departed slightly behind schedule, officials said.

“There is a device behind an aircraft’s engine called the auxiliary power unit (APU), which provides power to the air conditioning and the lights when the aircraft is turned off,” Saudi Arabian Airlines Customer Service Official Mizanur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

“That morning it performed an auto-shutdown before the flight took off. The journey of the 316 Hajj pilgrims aboard the flight resumed after the situation was fixed.”

“There were no fires,” he said. “None of the passengers had to leave the plane. But some media outlets published this incorrect information.”