Kingfisher plane escapes major disaster

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Siliguri/Mumbai: A Delhi-bound Kingisher Airlines flight with 190 people on board escaped a major disaster when its wing hit a wall built on a grass-covered bunker shortly before take-off at Bagdogra airport near here today.

The aircraft an Airbus 320 carrying 184 passengers and 6 crew members was taxing on the runway at 3 pm prior to its take off when its right wing hit the wall, Baghdogra Airport Director K.K.Bhowmik said.

The aircraft wing was badly damaged but there was no fuel leakage or any other untoward incident, he said.

"While executing a 180-degree turn to line up for take off at Bagdogra Airport, the right wing tip of the aircraft (IT-3334) touched the wall of a grass-camouflaged bunker located in the proximity of the runway," a spokesperson of the airlines said in Mumbai.

The aircraft was at a very low speed when the incident occurred, he said.

The flight was cancelled and the passengers were pulled out of the plane, the Airlines authorities said adding a separate flight was being arranged for them.

The spokesperson said airline's flight safety department has started investigating the incident.

Functioning of the airport was suspended for an hour after the incident to free the runway, Bhowmik said adding normal work has resumed.