The Hindu : New Delhi News : Aircraft tyre burst causes panic at airport

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Aircraft tyre burst causes panic at airport

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MARCH 15. A high alert was sounded at Indira Gandhi International Airport here last night after a tyre of a Jet Airways aircraft that had come in from Ahmedabad with 69 passengers and crew on board burst while it was being taken to the hangar. The tyre burst caused panic at the airport as it was initially mistaken for a bomb explosion by the Central Industrial Security Force and vigilance throughout the airport premises was stepped up.

It was at around 8-55 p.m. that the Jet Airways flight 9W 706 arrived from Ahmedabad. It was parked in Bay No. 28 of the Domestic Terminal where all the passengers and crew got off the aircraft. Thereafter, at around 9-50 p.m. while the aircraft was being taken to the Jet Airways hangar and was turning from the taxiway, one of its rear tyres burst.

As the loud blast was akin to the sound of a bomb explosion, the Central Industrial Security Force personnel at the airport went on a high state of alert and rushed their Quick Reaction Team to the spot from where the sound had emanated. Subsequently they realised that it was the bursting of the tyre that had caused the blast.

It was also revealed that at the time of the incident three technicians and an engineer were guiding the aircraft that was then taken to the hangar by the pilot for maintenance and replacement of the damaged parts.

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