199 SpiceJet passengers have narrow escape

Chennai, Feb 8 : The 199 passengers of a Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight had a narrow escape on Thursday as their plane suffered two tyre bursts -- one while taking off and then while making an emergency landing here, said a top airport official.

"The SpiceJet flight took off in the afternoon. The pilot of the next flight readying for take off 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 told 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.

The passengers disembarked, the plane was defuelled and after replacement of a part, the aircraft was moved to a safer place, he said.

According to Chandramouli, the damaged portion of the runway was repaired.

He clarified that the airport had not discontinued Tamil announcements about flight arrivals and departures.

"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.