Chennai: At least 199 passengers onboard a Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight had a narrow escape on Thursday as their plane suffered two tyre bursts during take off.
According to a senior airport official, one of the jet's two tyres bust while taking off and the other while making an emergency landing in Chennai.
"The SpiceJet flight took off in the afternoon. The pilot of the next flight readying for takeoff reported the presence of some foreign material. On inspection, it was found to be tyre pieces and the SpiceJet flight was called back," Chennai Airport Director G Chandramouli was quoted as saying by IANS.
"While making the emergency landing, the flight suffered another tyre burst. As the aircraft moved on the metal portion after the tyre burst, a small portion of the runway got damaged," Chandramouli added.
All passengers onboard the plane were disembarked and the jet was defuelled and, after replacement of a part, the aircraft was moved to a safer place, he said
The airport staff also repaired the damaged portion of the runway.
Chandramouli also clarified that airport announcements about flight arrivals and departures in Tamil were not cancelled due to the incident.
"There was some technical glitch in the announcement system and hence the display boards showed arrivals and departures of flights in English.
"The glitch was sorted out and now the announcements are being made in English, Tamil and Hindi," Chandramouli added.
(With IANS inputs)
