Close call for Saudi Airways flight

Published August 16, 2005

RAWALPINDI, Aug 15: A Saudi Airways Boeing 747 with 353 passengers on board narrowly escaped a disaster when six of its tyres “deflated” while landing at Islamabad airport on Saturday, sources said.

A senior official of Saudi Airways, when contacted, said six tyres of the flight SV-3722 deflated when brakes were applied.

“Usually, deflating of tyres happens due to overheating of wheel drums. However, the landing was smooth and nobody was hurt,” the official said.

He added that spare tyres were brought from Saudi Arabia through another flight on Sunday. The aircraft took off for its destination after tyres were replaced.

DEPORTEES ARRIVE: A group of 160 Pakistani nationals deported from Saudi Arabia arrived here at Islamabad Airport on a scheduled flight on Saturday, the airport authorities said.

The Pakistani nationals were deported for illegally staying in Saudi Arabia.

FIA MANHUNT: The anti-human trafficking unit of Federal Investigation Agency is hunting for a man involved in theft of visas at Thai Embassy, Islamabad, while his accomplice has been captured, a source said.

The source said Rab Nawaz Kasuri, who had been running a consultation office in G-9/3 for students seeking visas, was in contact with a man identified as Bhatti, a holder of Thai embassy entry pass and a regular visitor to the embassy. Together, the two persons had been using fake stamps and signatures to prepare fake visa documents and was also involved in stealing of four visas from the embassy, the source said.

The two-member gang was unearthed after Thailand embassy’s visa consulate informed the FIA about having received passports with fake visas.

On Saturday, the FIA arrested Mr Kasuri, while his accomplice is still at large, the source said.

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