Watch video: Saudi Arabia's soccer team player lands safely after plane catches fire in mid air
They were so close but still, they made it to the Earth.
Saudi soccer team lands safely in Russia's Rostov after engine fault -Federation
Saudi Arabia's official team of soccer plane caught fire in mid-air when they were travelling to their next World Cup match. Every player along with flight attendant were safely landed after an apparent engine fire on the plane carrying everyone to Rostov for a World Cup match.
Flames were easily visible from the window as they were coming out of the engine. The Russian Airlines Airbus was en route to Rostov where they take on Uruguay.
An official announcement stated from the football association read: "The Saudi Football Federation wishes to reassure everyone about the safety of all members of the mission of the national team after a minor technical malfunction in an engine.
"The plane landed a few minutes ago at Rostov on Don Airport, and UNOMIG personnel are now safely heading to their residence."
Videos uploaded to Twitter show fire shooting from the engines underneath the wings.
It was a Russian Airlines Airbus A319-100 and no one was hurt in what could have been a terrifying incident.
BREAKING Engine of plane carrying Saudi Arabia national football team to Rostov caught fire #FifaWorldCup2018 https://t.co/JEPS4A2QmP
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) June 18, 2018
The players were then filmed calmly leaving the stricken jet, which is 12 years old. They are now on their way to the team hotel in the south of the country after leaving Moscow.
Social media footage also appeared to show one of the engines catching fire and it was reported by a spokesman for airline Rossiya saying the fault occurred due to a bird strike.
"All the Saudi national team players are safe, after a technical failure in one of the aeroplane engines ... and now they're heading to their residence safely," it said in a statement on Twitter.
"I want to reassure you that we got to Rostov safely, it was a simple technical fault in the aeroplane but thank God we are now in the hotel and things are good," Osama Hawsawi, captain of the Saudi team, said in a video shared on social media.
"I want to reassure you that we got to Rostov safely, it was a simple technical fault in the aeroplane but thank God we are now in the hotel and things are good," Osama Hawsawi, captain of the Saudi team, said in a video shared on social media.
فيديو لتصوير لحظة إشتعال النار في جناح الطائرة .. pic.twitter.com/vqquyDQI5V
— اخبار كرة القدم (@Nsports24) June 18, 2018
"The whole delegation is well," midfielder Hattan Bahebri said in a video shared on the team's official Twitter page.
"Of course, we were a bit frightened, but thank God,".
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First published: 19 June 2018, 12:20 IST