LAHORE, Jan 16: A Russian flight, carrying 155 passengers, made an emergency landing at the Allama Iqbal Airport here on Tuesday after two of its tyres reportedly burst soon after take-off from Thailand's Pattaya airport.

Sources in the Civil Aviation Authority told Dawn that the flight (SVR-3624) left for Mizhnevartovsk in Russia at 3.30pm PST. During inspection, the Pattaya airport authorities found pieces of tyres on the runway and informed the pilot who passed on the information to the Pakistani authorities at 6pm and sought permission for emergency landing.

According to the sources, the CAA declared emergency at the airport. A number of fire brigade units and ambulances rushed to the airport and all major city hospitals were directed to get ready 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," they said.

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," the sources quoted a passenger as saying.

The CAA technical staff had completed the maintenance work of the plane and the flight was rescheduled to leave for its destination at 11.30pm Tuesday.

According to APP, the plane left for its destination at 11:30pm after tyre replacement.