A Saudi aircraft that crash-landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport 13 years ago was transported to Hyderabad on Wednesday for use as a training aid.
The MD-83 aircraft, weighing 40 tons, was moved in two parts on a trailer truck to facilitate the road transfer and avoid traffic disruptions. The journey from Karachi to the Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) Training Institute in Hyderabad took 12 hours, passing through Malir, Steel Town, Bin Qasim Town, Gharo, Thatta, and continuing via Badin Road and Sarmast Road.
New Role for the Aircraft
According to PAA officials, the aircraft, originally capable of carrying 172 passengers, will now serve as a practical training resource for aviation students in Hyderabad. Additional parts of the plane are expected to be transported to the institute soon.
A Notable History
The MD-83 aircraft was chartered by a Saudi prince and made an emergency landing in Karachi on December 25, 2011, during a flight from Tabuk to Quetta. A technical malfunction caused its nose wheel gear to fail, forcing the pilot to execute a challenging landing after three attempts. Despite the difficulty, the pilot successfully brought the aircraft down safely, and all 72 passengers, including the Saudi prince’s crew and servants, escaped unharmed.
The 150-foot-long plane remained inactive and parked at the Karachi airport for nearly 13 years before being repurposed for training. Its transfer marks a new chapter in its history, offering valuable learning opportunities for future aviation professionals.
