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Saudi Arabia safe after 'technical failure' on plane

Saudi Arabia's team plane was forced to make an emergency landing
Saudi Arabia's team plane was forced to make an emergency landing

Saudi Arabia's official team plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Monday after suffering a 'technical failure'.

The Green Falcons, 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 in preparation for their second Group A match when the incident happened.

Reports in Saudi Arabia suggest the wing of the aircraft caught fire as they approached Rostov-on-Don Airport, but a statement on the official Saudi Arabia Twitter account downplayed the severity of the 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."

Saudi Arabia face Uruguay on Wednesday at the Rostov Arena before finishing the group stages with a clash against Egypt next Monday in Volgograd. 

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