JEDDAH – New precautionary measures have been put in place at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) after a truck that was supposedly stationary suddenly drove off without its driver and crashed into the Haj terminal lounge, killing two people and injuring four others. The measures have been approved by the airport's top management to prevent similar accidents from happening again, announced KAIA director Abdul Hameed Aba Al-Ari. He said: “We're holding continuous meetings to find out the causes of the accident.” The Asian driver of the truck, 24-year-old Shailendra Kumar, admitted that he had not shifted the gear to ‘P' position when he stopped the truck and got down to start a water pump in the back of the vehicle to provide an aircraft with water. The vehicle hurtled forward with force without anyone at the steering wheel. It collided with the tire of another vehicle, changed direction and broke through the glass wall of the passenger lounge. “I couldn't do anything but cry. It was all unintentional,” said the driver, who has been detained for questioning. One of the survivors who was admitted to the hospital following the accident has already been discharged and left for his country while the other is still receiving medical care at the hospital. According to informed sources, the investigation committee formed by KAIA has not found any criminal motives behind the incident.
