Russian passenger jet makes emergency landing at Lahore

Lahore, Jan 17 (UNI) A Russian airliner, carrying 155 passengers, made an emergency landing at the Allama Iqbal airport here, after two of its tyres burst soon after taking off from Thailand's Pattaya airport.

Dawn newspaper quoted sources in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as saying that the flight (SVR-3624) left for Mizhnevartovsk in Russia at 1600 Hrs yesterday. But just after the plane took off, the Pattaya airport authorities found pieces of tyres on the runway during formal inspection and immediately informed the pilot, who then contacted the Pakistani authorities at 1830 Hrs and sought permission for emergency landing.

Soon after getting information, the CAA declared emergency at the Allama Iqbal airport. Fire brigade units and ambulances were put on stand-by at the airport and all major city hospitals were directed to be prepared to cope with a possible emergency.

''Meanwhile, the operation of other flights remained undisturbed during the emergency period as the primary runway was used for them. However, a red-alert at the airport created panic among passengers of other flights,'' said the sources.

The sources said the passengers, most of them Russians, expressed joy after the safe landing.

''We were literally terrified when told that the plane had to make emergency landing in Lahore. Thank God The ordeal is over.

Now everybody is happy for having another life,'' a passenger said.

The CAA technical staff had completed the maintenance work of the plane and it finally left for its destination at 2400 Hrs last night.

UNI