Saudi Arabia’s national soccer team plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Monday after suffering a ‘technical failure’.
Saudi Arabia, who fell to a 5-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Russia on the opening day of the World Cup, were on their way to Rostov to prepare for their second Group A match when the incident occurred.
Reports in Saudi Arabia allege that aircraft’s wing went on fire as they approached Rostov-on-Don Airport, but a statement on the official Saudi Arabia Twitter account downplayed the severity of the unpleasant incident.
The statement read: “The Saudi Arabian Football Federation would like to reassure everyone that all the Saudi national team players are safe, after a technical failure in one of the airplane engines that has just landed in Rostov-on-Don airport, and now they’re heading to their residence safely.”
?| The Saudi Arabian Football Federation would like to reassure everyone that all the Saudi national team players are safe, after a technical failure in one of the airplane engines that has just landed in Rostov-on-Don airport, and now they’re heading to their residence safely.
— Saudi National Team (@SaudiNT_EN) June 18, 2018
The Green Falcons will face Uruguay on Wednesday at the Rostov Arena and then finish the group stages with a game against Egypt on June 25 in Volgograd.
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 years ago
