KUWAIT CITY, Nov 11: Several passengers and flight attendants were injured when Kuwait Airways flight number 283, which was bound for Dhaka, Bangladesh Wednesday night, returned to Kuwait International Airport a few minutes after take off because the pilot noticed smoke emanating from an electric wire in the cockpit.

Media Coordinator at the Medical Emergency Department Abdulaziz Buhumeed said the department sent seven ambulances and 14 paramedics to the airport. He disclosed the medical emergency team provided treatment on the spot to 42 passengers, who suffered from minor injuries, while nine others, including three Kuwaitis, three flight attendants (Kuwaiti, Moroccan and Indian), two Bangladeshis and a Kuwaiti firefighter were rushed to Farwaniya Hospital as they sustained more severe injuries and fractures. He added eight of those rushed to the hospital had been discharged and only one remained - a 30-year-old Bangladeshi who lost consciousness.

When the aircraft made an emergency landing at the airport, a total of 224 passengers panicked and rushed to the exit, causing a stampede as they all raced down the rubber chute.

According to Minister of Communications and State Minister for National Assembly Affairs Dr Mohammad Al-Busairi, the pilot noticed the smoke seven minutes after take off, so he immediately informed the control tower that he intended to make an emergency landing. “All the necessary measures were taken to ensure the safety of the passengers. The aircraft was evacuated in a record time - about 45 seconds. This is quite a difficult task, especially since the passengers were all trying to get off the aircraft as fast as they could, resulting in a stampede. Many of them got minor injuries and were treated on the spot. However, some passengers and a cabin crew were rushed to Farwaniya Hospital but all of them except one have been discharged.”

Refuting reports that the aircraft caught fire, Al-Busairi stressed the pilot only saw smoke from an electric wire and it was not even heavy. He affirmed investigations are underway to determine the actual cause and the extent of the damage.
The minister also denied reports that a directive has been issued to remove the aircraft from the Kuwait Airways fleet. “These reports are unfounded the aircraft goes through regular maintenance works and is functioning perfectly. Such incidents are common in the aviation sector and the relevant authorities are taking the necessary steps to protect the passengers,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) President Fawaz Abdulaziz Al-Farah revealed the aircraft landed on one of the sub-runways at the airport. He said the relevant bodies dealt with the incident according to the specified procedures in such cases.
Al-Farah added six flights coming to Kuwait were diverted to nearby airports during the evacuation of the aircraft until the authorities were sure that the runway was free of any obstacle. He disclosed the passengers were transported to the airport building and air traffic returned to normal within a short period.
On the other hand, MP Musallam Al-Barrak attributed the incident to the widespread corruption in Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC). He pointed out the aircraft should have been removed from the fleet several years ago. He said many passengers would have been injured if not for the competence and alertness of the pilot and his crew.
MP Ali Al-Omair derided the government for the delayed issuance of an official statement on the incident, affirming the lawmakers will closely follow up the investigation.