UAE | General

Plane makes emergency landing in RAK

Eleven passengers suffered minor injuries when a Kuwait Airways flight bound for Dubai made an emergency landing at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport early yesterday, civil defence and hospital officials said.

  • By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 January 31, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: WAM
  • A Kuwait Airways flight to Dubai made an emergency landing at Ras Al Khaimah airport early on Tuesday.

Ras Al Khaimah: Eleven passengers suffered minor injuries when a Kuwait Airways flight bound for Dubai made an emergency landing at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport early yesterday, civil defence and hospital officials said.

According to Emirates News Agency, WAM, all the 119 passengers and crew were safely evacuated.

A Kuwait Airways statement said flight KU 675 made an emergency landing at Ras Al Khaimah as the pilot discovered the landing gear was stuck. "One of the plane's wheels also [failed to deploy]," it added.

The statement said: "The A320 aircraft flying from Kuwait International Airport to Dubai International Airport requested an emergency landing at 1:48am due to technical reasons.

The aircraft diverted to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport where international standards and procedures for emergency landing are available."

It said the 119 passengers were evacuated immediately and safely, safety and security measures were carried out and the aircraft was towed away from the runway.

Saqr Hospital officials said 11 passengers sustained light burns as they exited through the emergency exits and were taken to hospital for treatment. Some other passengers fainted as the pilot landed with one wheel stuck in the landing gear.

Civil Defence officials said the Airbus A320 was given permission to land as soon as the pilot sent a warning to Dubai, demanding an emergency landing.

As the aircraft touched the runway, the back wheel exploded and a small fire broke out in the plane which started to veer on the tarmac. The Civil Defence quickly put out the fire and evacuated the passengers and crew safely.

"The Ras Al Khaimah International Airport declared an emergency," said the Civil Defence.

The Kuwait Airways statement said: "An investigating team from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE was immediately deployed with assistance from the UAE Air Force Search and Rescue Unit, Department of Civil Aviation of Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai, as well as the Ministry of Interior.

"An investigation is currently being conducted to determine the cause [of the incident]."

The rest of the passengers were allowed to enter the UAE through Ras Al Khaimah.

According to the Kuwait Airways' rapid response team director, the fight was diverted to Ras Al Khaimah because of the high traffic at Dubai International Airport.

He extended his gratitude and appreciation to the UAE Civil Aviation Authority and officials at the RAK Airport for their "effective cooperation and swift action".

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