What happened
A scheduled service flight departed Madinah-Mohammad Bin Abdulazziz Airport at 17:24 local time, carrying 142 passengers and 10 crew members. While cruising at flight level 370, the crew reported a malfunction involving the green hydraulic system, specifically noting a low level warning in the green hydraulic system reservoir.
Due to worsening weather conditions that prevented a return to Madinah, the flight diverted to Jeddah-King Abdulaziz Airport. During the approach, the crew encountered significant difficulties with the landing gear; while the main landing gear appeared to be deployed, multiple attempts to extend the nose gear failed. After performing a fuel-burning circuit, the aircraft was cleared to land on runway 34R, though ground personnel and the control tower could not verify the status of the nose gear.
The aircraft type landed 700 meters past the runway threshold with the nose gear retracted. The impact of the nose against the runway occurred 1,350 meters beyond the threshold, resulting in both engine nacelles striking the surface. The aircraft slid several hundred meters before stopping 700 meters past the end of the runway. All 152 occupants were evacuated without injury, though the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair.
Findings
- A malfunction in the green hydraulic system led to a low reservoir level warning.
- The failure of the nose gear to extend prevented a standard landing configuration.