A Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) plane which was bound to Casablanca made yesterday an emergency landing at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport here. An official source at the civil aviation administration said in a statement to SPA that on Tuesday evening, Jan 1,2008, the Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) flight No./5362/, Being 200-747, which was bound to Casablanca, took off from Prince Mohamed bin Abdulaziz International airport at 9.5 evening, local time. At 9:27 p.m. the pilot of the plane informed the 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 return of the plane to the airport. The plane landed safely on runway 17 at 9:37 P.M. and the passengers were evacuated through emergency slips which caused a state of panic among a number of passengers. One of the passengers was slightly injured in contrary to what was reported by a satellite Channel. Airport officials extended all required facilities and services to the passengers. 485 passengers, including the crew, were aboard the flight. Later it was proved 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.
