Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, June 19
The 185 passengers on board SpiceJet flight SG 725 from Patna to New Delhi had a narrow escape on Sunday noon as the plane made an emergency landing within minutes after take-off.
District magistrate of Patna Chandrashekhar Singh, who visited the airport, said bird hit was suspected. Passengers evacuated will be sent by an alternative plane.
The flight had taken off at 12.10 pm from JP International airport and was in the air for hardly ten minutes when passengers heard deafening sounds and witnessed smoke from one of the engines. Residents of Phulwarisharif and Khagaul, areas close to the airport, said they saw one flank of the engine burning and apprehended the burning plane can crash on their houses.
A policeman on patrol duty at Phulwarisharif Chauk said, “We saw fire on one of the wings of the plane and feared aircraft may crash in the residential area. We immediately informed Patna police control room.”
Gaurav, one of the passengers told media persons that as the plane was taking off on the runway, they heard peculiar sounds like knocking and as it became airborne, saw fire in the engine. He was occupying a window seat.
A woman passenger said the captain of the flight informed the passengers that there was a technical problem and urged to remain calm.
District Magistrate and senior Superintendent of Police, Patna rushed to the airport and ensured evacuation of the passengers from the plane.
Video of SpiceJet file making emergency landing in Patna:
