PESHAWAR: Operations at Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar have returned to normalcy following a brief interruption due to a fire incident.
Officials confirmed that all flights, including those of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), have resumed their schedules as usual.
The runway closure on Thursday, prompted by a fire incident involving a Saudia airlines flight, temporarily disrupted air operations. However, authorities swiftly responded, ensuring that safety protocols were adhered to throughout the incident.
Flights destined for Dubai, Sharjah, and Karachi are set to proceed according to their planned schedules today, airport officials reassured.
The Air Accident Investigation Board team promptly conducted inspections, and the aircraft involved in the incident was removed from the taxiway for assessment. Under the leadership of the airport manager, efforts were made to ensure the smooth operations of the runway.
Flights resumed gradually starting from 7:50 pm on Thursday, marking a swift recovery in airport operations. A private airline flight, ER-852 from Jeddah, successfully landed at Bacha Khan airport.
On Thursday morning, a fire broke out in the landing gear of Saudia airlines flight SV-792 from Riyadh during landing at Peshawar airport. The air traffic controller alerted authorities about the fire.
Emergency protocols were triggered, leading to the swift evacuation of 276 passengers and a 21-member crew using emergency slides.
The incident caused temporary disruptions at Peshawar airport, which was declared shut for 24 hours due to the presence of the plane on the taxiway. According to a Notice to Airmen (Notam), the runway was closed from 10:35 am on Thursday to the same time on Friday. All flights to Peshawar airport were to be diverted to alternative airports.
