Team Saudi Arabia suffered an opening game disaster at the World Cup against Russia, but escaped a graver one on Monday when the plane suffered a ‘minor technical issue’ as it landed.
The Green Falcons arrived Rostov-on-Don where they face Uruguay in a decisive second group game, but the players and Coaches were given a jolt on board their plane as it made to land on the runway.
A wing caught fire as the pilots tried to land the plane and though nobody was hurt, the plane did suffer some significant amount of damage.
The Country’s FA issued a statement after the incident:
According to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, all the Saudi national team players have arrived safely in Rostov-on-Don this afternoon to play against Uruguay, and currently are staying in their residence, and that the fire was merely an accident.
The video was posted on social media by a member of the team:
đź“„ | Press Release
According to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, all the Saudi national team players have arrived safely in Rostov-on-Don this afternoon to play against Uruguay, and currently are staying in their residence, and that the fire was merely an accident. pic.twitter.com/ai67skC1Kp
— Saudi National Team (@SaudiNT_EN) June 18, 2018
đź“Ś | According to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the Saudi national team airplane that developed a technical fault is not carried out by the Saudi Arabian airlines, it was provided by the IATA organizational committee for the teams participating in the World Cup.
— Saudi National Team (@SaudiNT_EN) June 18, 2018
Russia suffered a 5-0 defeat in their opening game and will hope to stop the skid when they face Uruguay, who already have three points from their first game against Egypt.