Authority Denies Plane Caught Fire

RIYADH -- The Saudi Presidency of Civil Aviation (PCA) has denied that one of the Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) planes, which made an emergency landing in Madinah, caught fire.

Press reports said that the plane, carrying 485 pilgrims en route to Casablanca in Morocco had caught fire, and as result it made an emergency landing at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport.

"Shortly after taking off from Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Tuesday, the pilot of SAA Boeing 747 informed air control that there was a fire alarm at the rear luggage store of the plane, and subsequently he announced a state of emergency asking the plane to be allowed to return to the airport," says an official source at PCA safety department in a statement to the official Saudi Press agency (SPA).

"The plane landed safely after less than half an hour from taking off. All passengers were evacuated through emergency slips, which caused a state of panic among passengers. Contrary to a report carried by a satellite TV channel, only one passenger was slightly injured during the evacuation process," the source points out.

The source explained that it was proven later that the alarm was erroneous, however the pilot of the plane followed the proper operational procedures that made his return to the airport necessary so as to ensure the safety of passengers.