Ayman Al-Seidalani Saudi Gazette MADINAH — A Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft burst a tire as it landed in Madinah's Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport on Monday. The Embraer 170 was carrying 75 passengers on board at the time of the incident. The aircraft was traveling from Jeddah to Madinah. Upon landing, the plane veered slightly off the runway as a tire located under the starboard wing burst. Sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the flight had operated without incident until the landing at 7:15 p.m. After the tire had burst, the aircraft began to veer off the runway, the sources continued, yet the pilot managed to control it. The pilot informed air traffic control of the incident, requesting that the area be secured. Fire engines rushed quickly to the scene, and landings were redirected to another runway. All of the passengers were then safely evacuated. The spokesman for the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Khalid Al-Khaibari, confirmed that none of the passengers were hurt in the incident. The pilot had requested to stop on the runway, citing a problem with one of the tires. Upon inspecting the aircraft, he added, safety teams discovered a burst tire under the starboard wing.
