RIYADH: A Saudi Arabian Airlines flight suffered a landing gear failure and was forced to make an emergency landing in the city of Medina early Sunday that injured 29 onboard, aviation officials in the kingdom said.

The accident happened after a technical failure prevented the crew from lowering the rear wheels on the right side of the Boeing 767-300, General Authority for Civil Aviation spokesman Khaled bin Abdullah Khaybari said in a statement.

The airline confirmed the account in a separate statement, saying that one of its leased aircraft had “a minor accident.” Saudi Arabian Airlines, also known as Saudia, is the desert kingdom’s national carrier and operates a fleet of more than 100 aircraft.

The flight was carrying 315 people from the north-eastern Iranian city of Mashhad, including 16 crew members. Fire and rescue teams were deployed at Medina’s Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport after the crew reported the landing gear problem and preparations were made for an emergency landing, Khaybari said.

The injuries happened during a stampede as passengers scrambled to evacuate the plane, Khaybari said. Most of those hurt suffered only minor injuries, though 11 were taken to the hospital for treatment, he said.The airline reported that 12 passengers were taken to hospital, and that three remain in unstable condition. It did not elaborate.

Versions of the Boeing 767, a twin-engine, wide body jet, have been in use for more than three decades.—AP