Kuwait Times

Published Date: December 31, 2008

CAIRO: A Kuwaiti Airways plane flying from Cairo to Kuwait was forced to turn back yesterday half an hour after takeoff because one of its engines caught fire, an airport official said. The plane, carrying 227 passengers, took off one hour late after technicians found problems with its right engine.

It was later given the all-clear to leave, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. But 30 minutes into the flight the engine caught fire, forcing the carrier to return to Cairo's international airport, where fire fighters and ambulances were standing by on the tarmac. The plane landed without incident and no passengers suffered any injuries. - AFP