After the recent plane crash in Ahmedabad, another alarming aviation incident has emerged—this time in Lucknow. A Saudi Airlines flight, arriving from Jeddah, caught fire upon landing at Lucknow airport, sending shockwaves through passengers and the aviation community alike.

According to reports, the Air India flight was carrying 242 passengers when the incident occurred. As the plane, arriving from Jeddah, touched down and began to decelerate, flames erupted from its landing gear. The fire quickly intensified, with visible flames and smoke billowing from the aircraft’s wheels. The crew immediately alerted ground authorities, prompting a rapid response from airport fire services and ambulances. Chaos briefly ensued as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene, but thanks to prompt action, a major disaster was averted.

A video of the incident surfaced, showing the aircraft’s tires ablaze. The incident comes close on the heels of the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash, raising further concerns about aviation safety. While the aircraft involved in the Lucknow incident was a Saudi Airlines flight (flight number SV31), the similarities in timing and severity have not gone unnoticed.

The flight, carrying Hajj pilgrims, departed Jeddah at around 11:30 PM local time and arrived in Lucknow around 6:30 AM, factoring in the time zone difference. Upon landing, the wheels caught fire, reportedly due to a fluid leak from the landing gear mechanism. The leak is believed to have caused the blaze. Fortunately, all passengers were safely evacuated, and there were no casualties.

Following standard procedure, the affected aircraft will be sent back to Jeddah without any passengers, after necessary repairs to its landing gear. Such incidents, where technical faults are detected upon arrival at an airport, require the aircraft to return empty for further inspection and repair.

The incident in Lucknow was not an isolated case. On the same day, another Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (flight A1315) flying from Hong Kong to Delhi encountered technical problems mid-flight and was instructed to return to Hong Kong. All passengers were reported safe, and technical teams are investigating the issue.

These back-to-back incidents have raised serious questions about the safety and maintenance standards in the aviation sector. Just recently, a helicopter crash was reported near Kedarnath, and similar accidents have occurred in Joshimath and other locations, further fueling public fears.

Air India and other airlines are now working hard to restore public confidence, even launching campaigns featuring celebrities to reassure passengers. However, with repeated technical glitches and accidents, travelers are becoming increasingly cautious.

The recent Lucknow fire incident involving the Saudi Airlines flight has heightened anxieties, with many questioning whether airlines are maintaining proper safety standards. While air travel is generally considered safe, the spate of recent accidents has cast a shadow over the industry. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other authorities are expected to investigate these incidents thoroughly and take corrective measures.

As the aviation sector faces mounting scrutiny, only time will tell how regulators and airlines respond to restore passenger trust and ensure air safety.