The Hindu : Front Page : Major fire accident averted at airport

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Monday, Feb 04, 2008
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Major fire accident averted at airport

Staff Reporter

Flames erupt in engine of oil tanker refuelling an aircraft

HYDERABAD: A potentially dangerous situation was averted at the Begumpet airport on Sunday night when flames erupted in the engine of an oil tanker which was refuelling an aircraft.

Reliable sources disclosed that the tanker’s driver immediately drove away the vehicle from the parking bay after noticing flames coming out from the engine and prevented a major fire accident. Five more aircraft were present when the incident occurred around 7.30 p.m. Several ground staffers were also present at the parking bay.

However, officials of the fire station inside the airport said that they were unaware of such an incident. When contacted, Airport Director R. K. Singla neither denied nor confirmed the incident.

Bird hit

In another incident, an aircraft taking off from the airport landed again after a bird hit one of the wings on Sunday.

Passengers heaved a sigh of relief after the plane landed safely.

The airport staff burst ‘air bombs’ and crackers on the runway for every 10 minutes to prevent birds from entering the airport premises. A separate vehicle with gas cylinders, air bombs and crackers was also provided for the purpose.

But the problem persists because of a slum area abutting the airport, officials explained.

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