Panic at Lucknow Airport: Plane with 242 passengers catches fire upon landing!

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Another Aviation Scare: Saudi Airlines Jet Catches Fire Upon Landing in Lucknow, Days After Ahmedabad Crash

Just days after a devastating plane crash in Ahmedabad shook the nation, yet another alarming incident has rocked India’s aviation sector—this time at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport. A Saudi Airlines flight arriving from Jeddah caught fire upon landing, sending a wave of panic among passengers and igniting new concerns about flight safety.

Flames on the Runway: A Close Call

The aircraft, identified as Saudi Airlines flight SV31, was carrying 242 passengers, many of them Hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia. As the plane landed around 6:30 AM local time, witnesses and passengers reported seeing flames and thick smoke erupt from the landing gear shortly after touchdown.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a hydraulic fluid leak from the landing gear system may have caused the fire. The flames intensified rapidly, but the quick response from airport emergency services—including fire brigades and medical teams—ensured that the fire was brought under control before it could spread further or endanger lives.

A video clip that has since gone viral captures the chilling moment the aircraft’s tires were ablaze as it taxied on the runway. The visual evidence has only deepened concerns among the public, especially coming so soon after the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, which had already rattled passenger confidence.

Swift Evacuation, No Casualties

Thanks to the presence of mind shown by the flight crew and the emergency response teams, all passengers were safely evacuated without any injuries reported. While panic briefly gripped the runway, the situation was quickly contained.

Following standard aviation protocol, the aircraft will be sent back to Jeddah without passengers, after undergoing a complete inspection and repairs to its faulty landing gear system. Engineers from Saudi Airlines are coordinating with Indian aviation officials to determine the exact cause and assess broader safety implications.

Another Scare on the Same Day

The Lucknow incident wasn’t the only aviation scare that day. An Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (flight AI315), en route from Hong Kong to Delhi, experienced technical malfunctions mid-flight. The aircraft was forced to turn back and return to Hong Kong, where it landed safely. All passengers were reported unharmed, but once again, the technical issues have put the spotlight on the reliability of modern aircraft.

Mounting Concerns in the Skies

These back-to-back incidents come amid a rising number of aviation mishaps in recent weeks. Just earlier this month, a helicopter crash near Kedarnath and similar accidents in regions like Joshimath have raised alarm bells about overall aviation and transport safety standards in India.

With multiple technical failures involving both domestic and international carriers—Air India, Saudi Airlines, and others—passengers are beginning to question whether airlines are conducting adequate maintenance and adhering to global safety protocols.

Public Trust on the Line

In response to growing fears, Air India and other carriers have ramped up efforts to restore passenger trust, even launching public awareness campaigns featuring high-profile celebrities. However, experts argue that slick marketing won’t be enough. What’s needed is transparency, accountability, and strict enforcement of maintenance protocols.

According to aviation analysts, these incidents might indicate systemic lapses, not isolated errors. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already been notified and is expected to initiate a thorough investigation into both the Lucknow fire and the mid-air technical failure on the Hong Kong-Delhi flight.

What Happens Next?

Aviation insiders suggest that airworthiness inspections, especially for aircraft operating long-haul and pilgrimage routes, may become more frequent. There is also growing pressure on airlines to release maintenance logs and internal audit findings publicly to regain consumer trust.

So far, Saudi Airlines has not issued a detailed statement on the Lucknow incident beyond confirming that no lives were lost and that a technical review is underway. Air India, too, has remained cautious in its official communication, likely waiting for the DGCA’s preliminary report before making further comments.

Final Thoughts: A Wake-Up Call for the Industry

Though no lives were lost in Lucknow or on the Hong Kong-Delhi route, the sheer frequency of recent aviation mishaps across India and with Indian-bound flights is unsettling. What was once an exceptional event now feels almost routine, a trend that has deeply unnerved travelers.

Air travel remains statistically one of the safest modes of transportation. Yet, these incidents have highlighted how even the smallest oversight—a leaking fluid line, a misjudged repair, a delayed inspection—can nearly lead to catastrophe.

This latest episode should serve as a wake-up call not just for individual airlines, but for regulatory bodies, airport authorities, and maintenance crews across the board. Passengers deserve transparency, diligence, and above all, safety in the skies.

As investigations continue, what remains to be seen is how swiftly and sincerely the aviation sector responds—not just to the fire in Lucknow, but to the fire of fear it has ignited in the hearts of millions of passengers.

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